The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-12-19
pronntion Of Agricnlfure

Promotion Of Agriculture.
The reserves do not withhold land
from agricultural use. but greatly in
crease the amount of available farm
/ land. Though they were made from
the most rugged and mountainous
parts of the west and were intended to
| include only land unsuited for agri-
| oulture. by the act of June IL. 800
the right is given settlers to home
stead within the reserves wherever
strips and patches of tillable land can
he found At the same time. through
their water-eonserving power. these
forests fix in regions Of scanty rain
fall the amount Of land which can be
brought under the pillow. since at best
much fertile land must go unculti-
waited for want Of water Without for
est reservation much Of the hand now
under irrigation would have to be
abandoned again 70 the desert thus
the promotion of agriculture is one Of
the main ends Of the forest reserve
policy.
Protection of Grazing.
Administrative control Of the forest
reserves is beneficial to the grazing
industry The sentiment of stockmen
throughout the west IS untcdly in IA
vor of such control. because of the
gain TO them now that The reserve
ranges are safe from overcrowding
and deterioration. Thus the rights
of the Individual user are respected,
ana the permanance of this great re-
source is assured wish to commend
particularly in this connection the
| heartiness and good spirit with which
the associations of western stockmen
have co-operated in our effort to en-
force fair and just measures for the
regulation of grazing in the interest
of all users of the forests, and in the
interest Of the public to whom these
forests belong The charge of a graz
ing fee, made for the first time during
the past year. though reasonable in
view of the advantages Of grazing
regulation to the stockmen and the
cost of reserve administration to the
government, and justly due in the in
terest of the public. might have been
expected to cause dissatisfaction and
friction. ON the contrary, as soon as
the reasons for the charge and the
method in which 1t would he applied
had been explained. it was generally
PROMPTLY In some eases the associa-
approved and paid willingly and
tions of stockmen have voluntarily
aided the service in settling local diff
/ ficulties.
| Lumber for Use.
! FINALLY forest service adniOiStra-
ton of the reserves is beneficial alike
to the lumber industry and to the TIM
ber-consuming public. There is now
/ standing on the reserves not less than
800. 600. 900. 600 board feet of merchant
able timber This is not locked up
from present use rs 4 boarded supply
against future needs: it is ready for
/ immo date demands of a developing
country 1t will not be rushed upon
] the wholesale market in competition
/ with the cheap stumpage prices of
4 private owners anxious for ready
money, and it will not be disposed of
under shortsighted policy of utili-
zation which would leave gap be-
tween the end Of the present supply
and the oncoming of the second crop;
\ hut it is and will continue to he avail
able, first for the small user-home-
| builder, rancher or miner-and then
! for the needs of lumber concerns,
large miners and railroads for which
timber supply is indispensable, and
which in turn are Indispensable TO the
prosperity of the west.
Reserves soon Self-Sustaining.
The income from the reserves is as
1 yet but a small fraction of what may
he expected as they approach full
utilization. Yet their administration
is already on sound business basis.
/ Not only are they meeting from their
receipts a very large part Of the cost
of their maintenance; they are even
now beginning to show Il decided de-
crease in net expense to the govern
ment. My estimate of the appropriate
! ton necessary to meet the general ex
pense of the forest service is less by
/ 100000 than the appropriation of last
year. Notwithstanding that the total
area of the reserves has been sub
stantially enlarged by executive ae-
ton; that increasing use necessitates
greater expense of administration, and
that in general the work of the serv-
/ ice is growing very rapidly Though
the administration of the reserves
forms but a part of the field of work
1 it may confidently be expected that
within five years from the transfer of
the reserves to this department the
/ forest service will cost the taxpayer
! nothing whatever
Loss In Taxes Offset.
D.. ~, nf
congress in enacting at its last session
! that nor rent nf tho rereinf c