Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-11-06
THE USE OF THE NATIONAL
FORESTS.
Why They Were First Made


Why They Were First Made
In 1891 Congress authorized the
President to establish forest re-
serves, now called National Forests,
land President Harrison created the
first one the Yellowstone-that
same year.
Congress took this action because
the forests Of the great mountain
ranges in the West were being DESTROY
ed very rapidly byfire and reckless
cutting. 1t was realized that unless
something were done to protect them
,le timber nesourcs of the country
and the many industries dependent
upon t1e forest would be badly Grip
pied. So the law aimed to save the
timber for the useof the people, and
to hold the mountain forests as great
sponges to give out steady flows of
water for use in the fertile valleys
below.
How They are Made
At first great many of the Ma
tional Forests were made without ex-
actly knowing where the boundary
lines should run. This was unfortu-
nate; because some agricultural lands
which should have been excluded
were taken in, and a good deal of
timber land was left olt
Since 1900, however, men and money
have been available for field examina
tons, and rough and inaccurate work
has been done away with entirely.
Now, before new Forests or additions
to old ones are made, all lands are
examined on the ground.
Before any new National Forest is
made it is known just why it should
be made, just what effect it will have,
and just whereit should be located.
There are now about las, 100000 &C
res more in Alaska and Porto Rico.
For the Home Seeker
When a NationalF forest is created,
the home maker is not interfered with
In the least. He can travel all over
a Forest, pick out the agricultural
Land he wants for home, apply for
1t, have 1t listed, settle upon 1t when
listed, enter 1t, build his home, pat
ent 1t, and spend the rest Of his
days there.
For the Miner
The prospector is absolutely free
TO travel about and explore Just as
much as be pleases and wherever he
pleases without asking anybody's per-
mission. When he strikes mineralhe
can stake out, locate, record and de-
velop just asmany claims as he wish
es.
The timber is there to be used,
now and in the future. 1t Is given
away, free of charge. When wanted
for commercial purposes, timber Is
sold to the small man and to the big
man at a reasonable cost. There is
no chance for monopoly, because the
Secretary of Agriculture must by law
sell as much or as little as he thinks
best.
In 1906 100000 board feet were
given away and 7OO,OOO,OOO board feet
were sold.
Most of the timber land in the
West is good range for live stock.
At present it is used by about
100000 cattle and horses and 6,OOO,-
900 sheep. The Government protects
1t from being burned up or from be-
ing overcrowded and overgrazed, pre-
vents disputes between the owners OF
stock, and sees that each owner gets
the use Of that range to which he
has the best night.
The land itself can be used for all
purposes. The main thing is that
the land, as well as what grows
upon it, must be used for the pur-
pose for which it is most valuable
On it may be built stores, hotels, res
licences, power plants, mills, and man
other things. All these are advan-
tages to National Forests, because
they help to get the fullest use out :
of the land and its resources. HALL
roads, wagon roads, trails, canals,
fumes, reservoirs, and telephone ana
power lines may be constructed when
ever and wherein they are needed
as long as they do no unnecessar!
damage to the Forest.
National Forests are made, first Oh
all for the lasting benefit OF the
real home builder. They make 1t i'm
possible for the land to be skinned
rhav hanaf;t the man with a home