Gilpin observer., 1907-11-28
DISCUSSED BY WESTERN COLO.
RADIO FARMERS AND
STocKMEN.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
ASK FOR AMENDMENTS TO PRES
EMIT FOREST RESERVE
POLICY.

1lcuWOCu 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 at 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 Pitkin 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
itimate forest reserves, but We are
opposed to the indiscriminate with
drawal of public lands under the
guise of forest reserves. and we are
opposed to the policy of the forest re-
serve administration for the following
reasons:
"First-The forests in the rough
mountain country of this section have
been valuable to the inhabitants as a
source of supply of rough lumber,
suitable for the necessities of mining
and ranching. AS a source of supply
for lumber of commerce they are of
comparatively small value. The only
reason for the establishment of re-
serves in this section, therefore, was
for the protection Of the headwaters
of our streams and by conserving
SHOWS and moisture to regulate the
flow. This was the 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 the reason given for the
maintenance of the reserves is an ex-
pressed fear that future generations
may have a shortage of lumber.
In order that future generations
may be supplied, the present genera
tion is to be made to suffer. Under
this policy, all trees in the forests of
this section large enough to make
lumber are being sold and cut down
and our watershed thus denuded. In
stead of protecting our streams, We
maintain that with the policy of the
reserve the government is accomplish
!
vent. Our native supply of timber is
being sold and cut and shipped out
and we are already compelled to ship
in lumber for our local needs at great
ly advanced prices.
"Second-While we favor the proper
conservation and reservation of forests
and actual forest lands, thousands of
acres of land in these counties that
never saw a tree, and because of nat
ural conditions will not grow trees,
have been withdrawn from settlement
and development. Because of this
policy We are hindered in settling and
developing our counties.
"Third-The 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
ment of the objects of the reservation,
department officers are making rules
and regulations which they attempt
to give the full force of law, and the
effect is that we have two systems Of
government, one by the state and
county and the other by the forest re-
serve administration. The reserve gov
ernment disregards the state laws, as
sumes the right TO arrest our citizens
for disregarding their unlawful regu-
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 unfenced lands
does not constitute trespass. The for
est reserve rules and regulations
threaten us with criminal prosecution
II our livestock drift upon the un-
fenced reserves Of the government.