The Colorado statesman., 1908-08-08
LEARNED THE SENTIMENT OF
THE PEOPLE DURING HIS
VISIT HERE.
so SAYS Mr.. NEWELL
WORK OF CLIFFORD PINCHOT HAS
SAVED FORESTS TO THE
PEOPLE.

Denver-Criticism of the federal
cies which work toward the conserva-
ton of natural resources such as the
forest preserves and the irrigation pro-
jects is quickly passing away in the
opinion of Director of the United States
Reclamation Service F. A. Newell, and
the fact was strongly emphasized dur
ing the recent trip of Secretary Gar
field of the Department of the Interior.
Moreover the waning of adverse com
ment is due to the recognition on the
part of the people of the value which
the immense undertakings will bring
them.
This was excellently illustrated in
the journey of the government Off
cials for the reason that not single
new complaint was heard and that un'
usually few of the old objections were
offered Mr. Newell, who arrived in
Denver Thursday night from Garden
City, Kas, where he left Mr.. Garfield,
particularly observed during during the
inspection trip the attitude of farmers
and cattle raisers toward the forest
preserves. He found that now 1t is
broadly recognized that the govern
ment is not only benefiting posterity
in it's action, but the present genera
ton as well. that the poor have an
equal right to use of the forests guaran-
teed them, and that the element of
chance in the grazing of sheep and cat
tie has been removed by the national
restrictions to limited territory.
Regarding the greater irrigation pro-
jects, such as the one at Montrose, Mr..
Newell was conservative in his express
sions as it is in those that he is most
directly connected. The Gunnison tun
mel, he estimates, will be of incalcula
liable value to the region in which it Is
situated and will undoubtedly greatly
increase the value of the land. So far
he believes that the progress of the
work there has been satisfactory under
uniquely difficult conditions. Almost
every degree of hardness in the rock
has been encountered while the tunnel
begins at both ends in singularly hard
situations and must be bored at the ex-
treme base of the mountain.
Last Friday he and Secretary Gar
field had gone to visit it, but the flood
of water which had Unexpectedly filled
the tunnel prevented any entrance to
the interior. The damage done then was
only tmporary and Mr.. Newell thinks
that with favorable conditions the pro-
ject may be entirely completed within
year, although unlocked for exigen
cies may arise.
AS yet nothing concerning the reser
voir plans in the San Luis valley have
been finally determined, but the Secre
tary of the Interior has inspected the
grounds, and decision may be
reached. Part of the time was spent
by the party at the Indian reservation
and Mesa Verde. where the cliff dwell
ings were visited. These proved of ex
ceptional interest, although the mem
bers enjoyed the unusual experience OF
sliding down the rocks hundreds of feet
in the midst of a heavy rainstorm
ITO my mind" Mr.. Newell said, In
his room at the Adams, Clifford Pin
chot has accomplished one of the great
est works of any living man. In a
few years he has saved the forests
from perpetual ownership by the veal
thy and the large corporations"