The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-09-06

such increases. I look forward with great
confidence to tho result.
by the side OF the service
there has grown up another service OF not
loss interest and value 10 you OF the west.
This In the forest service. which was ere
serves was transferred from the interior
department. To the department. OF agricul-
turc. The forest policy OF the administra-
ton. which the forest service In engaged In
carrying out. In based. ms I have often
said. on the vigorous purpose 20 make cv-
cry resource OF the forest reserves con-
tribute In the highest degree to the perma-
nent prosperity OF the people. who de,
pend upon them IL ever the time should
come when the western forests are dcs-
troyed. there will disappear with them the
prosperity of the stockman. the miner. the
inm6ernan. 2 the railroads. and. most
cultivates his own land. / know that you
are with me I'm the intention 90 preserve
the timber. the water. n the grass by
USING them fully. blu wisely and conserva-
lively. We propose to do this through the
frecst and most cordial cooperation be-
tween the government and every man who
u In sympathy with this policy. the wis
dom OF which no man who knows the facts
n FOR a moment doubt.
IL IL now less than two years since the
forest service was established. IL had n
great task before u TO create or rcorganlze
the service on N hundred forest reserves
and 10 ascertain and meet the very differ
cnt local conditions and local needs all
over the west. This task IL not finished.
and OF course IL could not have been nm
ishcd In so short n lime. But the work has
been carried forward with energy n in
tclligcncc n enough has been done TO
show how our forest policy IN working out.
Thc'rcsult OF first Importance to you as
irrigators ~ this: The forest service has
proved that forest fires can be controlled.
by controlling them. Only onc-tcnth OF
one per cent. OF the area OF the forest re-
GaFHeaa nsN~E 1UHEgaI nNaH Ia tAE ThNa
achievement was due both 10 the forest
service and To- the effective assistance OF
settlers and others In and near the re-
serves. Everything the has
price 20 pay Tor the knowledge that the
streams which make your prosperity can
bc and are being freed from the evCT-prcs-
cnt threat 81 forest nrcg.
The l0ng-standiug and formerly bitter
differences between me stockmeu and the
forest officers arr nearly all settled. Those
which remain are In process OF settlement.
Hearty cooperation exists almost every
where between the officers or the forest
service and the local associations OF stock
men. Who are appointing advisory COM
mittccS which are systematically consulted
by the forest service on all questions In
which they are concerned. This most sat
isfactory conditions 81 mutual help VIII
be a welcome % YOU ~ IL is 10 the nd-
ADMINISTRATION and To tho stockmcn. To the
it means more. and more certain
grass. 10 you. becaus" uf the better protcc-
ton and wiser use OF the range. 10 means
stcadicr stream How and moro water.
The snies of for-st-rcscrvc timber To set
Tiers. miners. lumbormen and other users.
are increasing very rapidly. and In that
way also the reserves are successfully
meeting "a growing need.
Lands in the forest reserves that are
more valuable Tor agriculture than for for
est reserve purposes are being opened To
settlement and entry "a fast az their ag-
ricultural character can be- asccrtatncd.
HI.--- t. 80 49, 800 go
saying the reserves r";nrd the legitimate
settlement and development of the coun-
Try. ON the contrary they promote and
sustain that development. AMI they VIII DO
20 IN 10 way more powerfully than
through their direct contributions TO the
schools and roads. Ten per cent. Of all
the money received from the forest re-
serves goes to the state for tho use % The
countirs ia which the receives liz, 10 BE-
used for schools and roads. The amount
81 this contribution - nearly $1,000 Tor
ia" rgat year. IL viii grow steadily larger
and viii form a certain and permanent
sourc. % Income. which would not have
b"rn the case with tho taxes whose place
10 takes.
Finally. a body OF intelligent. practical,
wcil-truirsd men. citizens OF the west. Is
being built up OF men iu whose hands the
public interests. Including your own. are
and will bc safe.
Al these results are good hut thcy have
not been achieved by the forest service
alone. pn the contrary, they represent
also the needs and suggestions 81 the pvo-
NJ" u the whole west. They cmbody con
stnnt changes AMI adjustments To meet
these suggestions and needs. The forest
policy 81 the government Ia thH west has
now become what the west desired IL 20
be-. II ~ a national p~oilcy-widcr than the
boundaries of any state. and larger than
the Interests OF y single Industry. or
courHC Ia Cannot give any set OF man oN-
aCtly what they would choose. tndoubt-
'lly. the ~rrigator would often like TO nave
less stock ON hts watersheds. while tho
stockman wants more. The lumbcrman
would Tx" "a cut more timber. the settler
and the miner would often like To have
him cut l~ss. The county authorities wan
to see moro money coming In for schools
and roads while the lumbcrmau and tho
tockman object TO the rise In value u
timocr aud "rass. But the interests OF the
people "A "A whole are. | repeat. safe In the
lands OF the forest service.
BY keeping the public forest In tho pub
lie hands our forest policy substitutes the
good OF the whole people for the profits
OF the privileged few. With that result
mons will quarrel except the men who are
losing chance OF personal profit az the pub
lie expense.
our western forest policy II based upon
meeting the wishes OF the best public
sentiment OF the whole west IL proposes
10 create new reserves wherever forest
lands siill vacant are FOUND IN the public
domain and 90 give the reserves already
mad the highest possible usefulness TO
all the people. so far our promises To the
people Ia regard To Il have all been made
good; and | ave faith that this policy
bccaugc | believe that the people OF the
vert arr behind H.. Sincerely yours.
Theodore Roosevelt.