Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-11-29
'USE OF FOREST
RESERVES
DISCUSSED BY WESTERN COLO.
RADIO FARMERS AND
sTockMEN.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
ASK FOR AMENDMENTS TO PRES.
ENT FOREST RESERVE
POLICY.

Glenwood Springs. Colo.-One OF the
subjects discussed here during the re-
cent meeting OF stockmen and farmers
on the Western slope was the position
OF the people In relation to the forest
reserves. For the first time the stock
men have put into definite form their
objections to the forest reserves and
what they desire done by Congress TO
amend the forest reserve laws. The
matter was discussed ut great length.
and the following statement was un-
animously adopted as the sentiment
Of the people on this side Of the noun.
tain:
The farmers and stockmen OF the
counties OF Eagle. Garfield. Rio Blanco
Routt and ?itAin In Colorado. In mass
meeting assembled. do hereby declare
our position In regard to the forest re-
serves located within these counties.
We deny that We are opposed to the
establishment and maintenance OF leg
itimatc forest reserves. but We are
opposed to the indiscriminatc with
drnwal Of public lands under the
.uise OF forest reserves. and we are
opposed to the policy Of the forest re.
serve administration for the following
reasons:
.'FIrst-Thc forests In tho rough
mountain country Of this section have
been valuable to the Inhabitants as
source Of supply Of rough lumber.
suitable for the necessities Of mining
and ranchinE. As n source Of supply
for lumber OF commerce they are OF
comparatively small value. The only
reason for tho establishment Of re-
serves In this section. therefore. was
for the protection Of the hcadwatcrs
Of our streams and by conserving
SHOWS and moisture to regulate the
How. This was tho reason originally
given for the establishment OF the re-
serves. but apparently this reason has
been forgotten In the desperate effort
TO make the forests produce revenue.
and now tho reason given for the
mainte nance Of the reserves In nm cx.
pressed fear that future generations
may have n shortage OF lumber.
In order that future generations
may be supplied. tho present genera
iion In To be- made To suffer. Under
this policy. all trees In the forests of
this section large enough to make
J lumber arc being sold and cut down
and our watershed thus dcnnd1d. In.
stead of protecting our streams. w-
maintain that with the policy OF tho
reserve tho government In accomplish
ins the result Il vas expected to pre-
vent. Our native supply OF timber ID
being sold and cut and shipped out
and wc arc already compelled to ship
In lumber for our local needs al great
iy advanced prices.
'Sccand-whiic We favor tho proper
conservation ami reservation Of forests
and actual forest lands. thousands of
acres of land In these counties that
never saw = ucc. and because Of nat.
ural conditions will not grow trees.
have been withdrawn from settlement
and development because Of this
policy wc arc hindcrcd In settling aad
dctclopinE our counties.
"Third-Thc forest reserve admin.
istration has established within our
state local or municipal Jurisdiction
over our people. Based upon author.
ity from Congress to make proper
rules and regulations for the enforce
mcnt Of ttc objects Of the reservation.
department officers arc making rules
and regulations which they attempt
10 give the full force Of Law. and the
effect Ii that wc have two systems of
government. one by the state and
county and the other by the forest re.
serve administration. The reserve gov.
ernmeat disrcEards the state laws. as
sumcs the right 80 arrest our citizens
for disrcrar,iius their unlawful rcTu.
lations and We are taken for trial be.
fore the Federal Courts instead Of our
state courts. As an example Of this
condition. the state laws provide that
livestock drifting upon unfcnccd lands
.ioes not constitute trcsrass. The for
lst reserve rules and regulations
threaten us with criminal prosecution
II our livestock drift upon the un.
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