Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-03-17
ATTACKS FOREST RESERVE.
Colonel Miller, Commissioner of I'M
migration. Tells How Settlement
of State is Retarded

A communication to J. G. Rowton of
Kooskia, published in the Teller, from
Colonel Allen Miller, state commissioner
of immigration, vehemently denounces
the governments. policy of including
such extended areas of Idaho's lands in
forest reserves. The commissioner is
severe in his criticism of the stringent
regulations surrounding entrance to the
reserves and minces nothing in his re-
marks.
The forest reserve question is a sub
ject of frequent conversation and COM
ment among the people of northern
Idaho, and campaign of education has
already begun in the southern portions
of the state. This question will doubt
less be prominent issue in politics,
and the actions of Senator Hepburn in
this matter meet with the approval of
great majority of people in this Sec
ton of Idaho.
Colonel Miller's letter follows:
eve must agitate the forest reserve
question until we get justice done our
state. 1t is already injuring us past all
calculation. AS the matter now stands,
considerably over one-fourth of the
lands of the state are in forest reserves.
At the time 1 replied to Major Fem
did not know the exact amount. They
were being created so rapidly that one
could not keep track of them. The ex-
act lumber of acres so for is Is, 343, $780,.
The total number of acres in the state
is SO, PA, 900.
''This whole forest reserve is now
under the control of one man, and he is
absolutely apportioning it out between
the cattle and sheep associations. These
two associations are strong enough in
numbers and capital to be taken into
account, and we find him present at
tees from the association visiting him
at Washington. If he has condescended
to meet with the farmer or talk with
him, l have not yet seen anything of it.
'fIIe has made a code of laws con-
sisting of lao pages, much of which is
in small type. The second enactment
in this wonderful book is, No lane
claim can be initiated in a forest re-
serve except mining claims Ther
there are so many regulations thrown
around the prospector that he will have
to keep avery clear head if he does NO
become entangled among them.
Hardship on the Settlers.
'tBut it is the settler who concern.
me. If he happens to come along il
his canvass-covered wagon, as most O.
them have come and are coming, h,
finds this sign posted up as a warning
DO not enter He may have with hin
some stock, as most settlers general,
have, and before he can cross the re
serve he must get permit. He mus
apply to the supervisor for one. Th
r supervisor takes the application, passe
Judgment upon it, then sends it {
: Washington to the Forester (spelle
) with a big F). He passes judgmen
/ upon it, or one of his numerous clerk
does, who knows as much about tn
/ conditions as he does about calculating
a transit to Venus. 1t is then returne
to the supervisor and, if granted, he
supposed to notify the man who is seel
: ing a home on our public lands, that
= has obtained the gracious permission &
/ Mr.. Pinchot to cross the sacred pr,
!. cincts of 2 forest reserve.
ri GIN the meantime what has becor