The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-03-11
WILL INVESTIGATE
FOREST RESERVES
President Writes Letter to Gov. Mead
Promising That Agricultural
Will Be Restored to Entry

refusal to withdraw from entry GER
tain lands in Whatcom county, the
saying that Secretary Garfield, Com
missioner Ballinger and Chief Fores-
ter Pinchot will visit the northwest
to investigate the system of forest
reserves obtaining in this state.
Governor Mead today made public
the following letters which he re-
ceived from the president regarding
forest reserves in the state of Wash
ington:
white House, March 8, 1907.
my Dear Governor Mead: 1 en-
close herewith copy of a letter from
Mr.. Pinchot, chief forester. I call
your special attention to our exper-
fence with the Olympian reserve. In
this a very large elimination was
made some years ago in response to
plea that it was more valuable for
agriculture than for timber; but as
a matter for fact that land, which
was entirely out Of hope under the
timber and stone act, is today largely
without settlers, and it's extremely
valuable timber has passed into the
hands of few timber companies.
Praises Ballinger.
Il agree entirely as to the admir-
able quality of our new commission
er of the general land Office, Judge
Ballinger During this coming sum-
mer I Intend to have Secretary Gar
field and Commissioner Ballinger
meet Chief Forester Pinchot and go
most carefully over the whole forest
reserve matter, and so far as prac-
ticable have them visit personally at
least some of the reserves If it shall
appear that any of the reserves we
have made, whether recently or of
late date, be found to include agri-
cultural land, that land will be re-
stored to entry, but it is surely de-
structive in the highest degree to the
interests of the country and the in
terests of the state of Washington
to withdraw very rich timber lands
to great syndicates who skin it and
leave it worthless. We wish to see
the foresters use them in the way
that every really civilized people uses
them; that u.s.. to preserve them for
future generations. In short we
wish to administer the lands SO that
they will be preserved for the actual
homemakers and for the children
who are to come after them. am
| sure, my dear governor, that this is
also your proposition, and that no
man is better able to put it into
more effective form than your fell
low citizen, Judge Ballinger of Sc
attic, whom l have just appointed
commissioner of the general land
Office, and who enters upon his
duties tomorrow.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
PinchOt Supports Governor.
This letter was sent to Governor
Mead by the president in answer to
letter sent by the governor to the
president That letter was referred
to Mr.. Pinchot of the forest reserve
service. In answer Mr.. Pinchot sent
the president letter stating that
Governor Mead is right in saying
that lands of higher value for agri-
culture than for timber should not
be withdrawn from settlement and
entrance; and it is true that much
logged-Off land in Western Washing
ton has high agricultural value. If
it were proposed to include in the re-
serve such lands as these lying to
the base of the Cascade mountains,
the governors argument would be
conclusive; but the reports of our
cruisers show that the lands within
the proposed reserve are, with the
exception of very small and isolated
areas, without value for agriculture.
I cannot advise you to release from
withdrawal these heavily timbered
lands. To do SO would certainly lead
to their passing into the hands of the
great lumber syndicates'
Would Not Hamper Farmers.
Further on in his letter, Mr.. Pin
chot says:
II appreciate fully that there is
opposition to the forest reserve pol
icy in Washington as there is else
where. Too little, OF it, however,
comes from actual home makers. The
history and present condition of the