Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-05-24


uously to the growing Of spruce. With
the aid Of the forestry bureau, com
plete scheme for the management of
the property has been formulated. I'm
der this scheme, only one-sixteenth Of
the timber, including only trees of nine
inches diameter and upwards, will be
cut each year, the whole tract thus
being Numbered" every 16 years. At
the end of each 16-year period there
will be more timber on the tract than
at the beginning, as careful provision
is made for replanting and the protec'
tion of the younger growth. The diff
ference between the results of this sys-
I tenn and of that under which the for.
ests of Michigan. Wisconsin and Min.
nesota, for example, have been and are
being simply devasted" is obvious.
Under the one, the forest area yields
six crops of full grown timber in a
century; under the other, only one
crop, with no provision for preventing
the land from remaining desolate
waste. Upon the one, the forests floor
is preserved, holding back the spring
floods; under the other, it is destroyed,
allowing the floods to pass away with
a rush. Under one, the beauty of the
natural scenery is preserved; under the
other. God is moeked by the ruin of his
handiwork. Finally, under one the
community is perpetually enriched; un.
der the other it is robbed of what is Of.
ten its only wealth.
Federal Gains Through Irrigation.
Says Leslio's Weekly: "The federal
government has adopted generous
and far sighted policy in regard to re-
clamation projects; but it might ex.
pend ten times the amount thus far ap-
propriated, with a surety of getting at
least two dollars back within few
years in permanent additions to the ma.
tion's wealth"
Ten times the amount thus far ap.
propriated would approximate $50 mil
lions. Gain, by this estimate, $50 mil
lions more. A big figure, SURELY But
in point of fact the estimate is small
10 the verge of puerility. Irrigation
has done far more than to mako dol
lar land worth two dollars or to insure
a single return of 100 per cent on the
amount invested. 1t has made dollar
land worth $50 TO $500 per acre. The
"permanent additions TO the nation e
wealth" which would result from an
expenditure Of $50 millions could find
expression only in figures which would
stagger the intellect.
But it is encouraging 10 find such
journals as Leslie's awakening 10 a
sense of the magnificent returns which
await an adequate use Of the nation e
resources in the expansion Of irriga-
tion. And when il is considered that
such use, under the national reelama.
tion system, implies only series of
ten.year loans, and not the permanent
sinking Of the millions required. II
really seems that congress itself must
soon share in the awakening, and give
to the reclamation service appropria.
tions adequate for the great work II
has in hand, and the most complete sup.
port against the disappointed grafters
- L..If.. a. Laala
Forestry in Minnesota.
While many other states have been
elamoring at the doors Of congress for
the establishment Of national forest
reserves within their boundaries il has
remained for some sections Of Mime
sofa 20 fight such establishments as II
il meant the location Of small pOx cen
tiers in its territory. A number OF the
people in the state including many
members Of its legislature and some Of
its public officials and eongessmen
have been and are so much under the
sway Of the land Skinning Interests
that they are utterly deaf to all the
lessons Of science and experience con
eerning the value Of its forests 70 the
country, except as supplying siHgit
crop Of sawlogs. That crop removed
theyare willing TO see the land doomed
20 perpetual des0latiOn rather than
have il again devoted TO forestry. But
these misguided people are faced BY an
active and intelligent group Of men
and women, 70 whom the dtrais'e
benehcienee Of the forestry propaganda
makes a stroag appeal. Hence they
have applied themselves 20 its support
with 90 much real, self'saerihes aud
effectiveness that il has reused the
.. slinneFs" 20 smazement. One Of the
Duluth organs Of the latter, unable 70
conceive Of any other than sordid mo
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