Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-04
PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
Those Which Have Been Created in
the Last Few Days.
GIVES HIS REASONS
HE
Memorandum Showing Why He De.
eide to Act Without Waiting
for Congress.

President Roosevelt today signed the
agricultural appropriation bill, which con-
tanned a provision that in the future no
forest reserves should be created except by
act of Congress Before this bill became
law, as 1t did by his signature, however,
the President added millions Of acres of
lands to existing forest reserves or Gre
ated new ones. Just how many millions of
acres are included in the presidential or
der Is not stated at het While House, but
that the President has not left much for
Congress to put in reserves is a certainty.
The proclamation Of the President prom
ises to create a tremendous sensation in
the west. where the public land policy of
the administration has not been satisfac-
tory to the mass of the people.
Created in Last Few Days.
The following are the forest reserves
that have been created or added to in the
last day or two:
Tolyebe forest reserve, Nevada; We
naha forest reserve. Oregon and Washing
ton: Las Animas forest reserve, Colorado
and New Mexico; Colville Forest reserve
Washington; Siskiyou forest reserve, Ore
gon; Bear Lodge forest reserve. Wyoming;
Holy Cross forest reserve, Colorado; I'm
compahgre forest reserve, Colorado; Park
AOicSl IeScEScy SOloTduOsiHndHa 1OF-
est reserve, Oregon; Big Belt forest re-
serve. Montana; Big Hole forest reserve.
Idaho and Montana; Otter forest reserve.
Montana; Lewis and Clark forest reserve,
Montana; Montezuma forest reserve, Colo
RADIO; Olympic forest reserve Washington;
Little Rockies forest reserve, Montana;
San Juan forest reserve, Colorado: Medi-
cine Bow forest reserve, Colorado and Wy
oming; Yellowstone forest reserve, Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming: Port Neuf forest
rocf
Idaho; Weiser forest reserve. Idaho: Priest
River forest reserve, Idaho and Washing
ton: Cabinet forest reserve, Montana and
Idaho: Rainier forest reserve, Washington;
Washington forest reserve, Washington;
Ashland forest reserve, Oregon; Coquille
forest reserve, Oregon: Cascade forest re-
serve. Oregon: Umpqua forest reserve, Ore
gon: Blue Mountain forest reserve, Oregon.
The Presidents Reasons.
In signing the proclamation the President
added the following memorandum explain
ing his action:
These forest reserves were determined
upon and the preparation of the necessary.
papers ordered some months ago-in two
thirds of the cases some years ago-in the
exercise of the duty imposed upon me by
act of Congress of March 3, 1891 The ut
most care and deliberation have been ex-
ercised in deciding upon the boundaries Of
cases long continued and detailed field ex-
amlnatlons have been made and in the
remainder examinations amply sufficient to
justify the proposed action.
THE necessary proclamations under ex-
listing law now come before me. and the
question is presented whether l should re-
frain from acting under the existing law
because there is now under consideration
by Congress a proposal to change the law
so to require congressional action upon
the establishing Of such forest reserves.
If did not act reserves which l consider
very important for the interests of the
United States would be wholly or in part
dssipated before Congress has an oppor-
tunity again to consider the matter; while
under the action which l propose to take
they will be preserved and if Congress diff
| fers from me in this opinion it will have
full opportunity in the future to take such
position as it may desire anent the discon-
unuance OF the reserves by affirmative &C
| ton. taken with the fullest opportunity for
considering the subject by itself and on its
own merits.
IF by any chance land were valuable for
| other purposes than for forest reserves is
shown to have been included in these re-
serves. I shall forthwith restore it to entry.
Failure on my part to sign these procla-
nations would mean that immense tracts
of valuable timber would fall into the hands
of the lumber syndcates before Congress
| has an opportunity to act; whereas the Gre
alton of the reserves means that this tim
| Der will be kept in the interest of the
homemaker; for our entire purpose in this
| forest reserve policy is to keep the land for
the benefit of the actual settler and home
maker to further his interests in every
way, and while using the natural re-
| sources of the country for the benefit of the
! present generation, also to use them in such
| manner to keep them unimpaired for the
benefit of the children now growing up to
| inherit the land. This Is the final and eX-
| elusive object not merely of our forest
| policy but of our whole public land policy.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
! "The White House. March 2, 1907"