Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-10-02
MINERS, sTockMEN AND FARM.
ERs ATTACK MANAGEMENT
OF RESERVES.
AT DENVER MEETING
CLAIM 1T DRIVES OUT PRosPEc.
TORS, Ross sTocKMEN AND
cRIPPLEs IRRIGATION.

States Forestry Service, and probably
the most bitter ever given any govern
nent representative in Denver took
place Saturday afternoon when the
forestry system was called "a cheap
graft, "an unmitIgated curse to Colo
rado," its employees incompetent graft
ers." in the presence Of A. F. Potter,
chief of the grazing department Of the
Forestry Bureau and personal repre-
sentative of Clifford Pinchot. chief of
the Forestry Service.
The three great Industries Of the
state, stockraising. mining and irriga-
tion all Joined In the common attack
upon the forestry system. To add to
the strength of the statements. many
OF the most pro:ninent men In the
state were speakers. Sen. Henry NJ.
Teller. Judge d. c. Beaman. counsel
for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany; Charles ID. Hayt. the well known
mining attorney Of this city; Col. Ed
+. Brown, George Bancroft, mining
engineer: Mr.. Myers OF breckenridge.
State Senator E. NJ. Ammons of Little
ton. all took an active part in de-
nouncing the system.
Mr.. Potter anBweIed each question
that was brought in a more or less sat
isfactory manner.
The meeting. which was held before
the forestry committee of the Cham
ber Of Commerce.. presided over by its
chairman, w. A. Hover. and Gen. Irv-
ing Hale. adjourned at o'clock after
four hours of discussion with nothing
definite done. 1t was at first suggested
by W. G. NJ. Stone. president OF the
State Forestry Association. that the
meeting adjourn until MIR. Pinchot
could come to Denver himself Sena.
tor Ammons. In sizzling speech. pro-
tested against this, which he said was
an effort to dodge the issue by the
Chamber OF Commerce. and by taking
no action indorse its resolution com.
fnending the Forestry Service in
everything that II has done. He said
this resolution. to which Senator Tel
Ter also referred rather bitterly, mis-
represented the mining and agricul-
tural interests OF the state.
The specific charges made by those
protesting against the forestry sys-
TEN were: Tha: II was driving pros
pectors out OF the state: that II was
holding up thrce-fourth OF the mining
claims on which patents were asked,
though lodging responsibility through
the land office when an explanation
vas asked: that 1t is driving saw-mill
owners out of business: that It was
forcing stockmen TO pay taxes for
benefits which they never receive:
that 1t was gripping the Irrigation in
terests of the state by claiming owner
ship of all water on the reserves: in
short. that It is stopping development
of The greatest interests OF the state
and making investment of capital a
dangerous venture. while the CONNER.
cial bodies of Denver are spending
thousands Of dollars in advertising re-
sources which cannot be developed be-
cause of the Forestry Service. Many
so-called absurd provisions. such as at
tempting to regulate the state game
laws, enforcing the eight hour day.
and making a "maa an outlaw" as far
cs certain rights are concerned. when
he violates provision Of the forestry
system. were roasted.
In regard to Lrospectors. Mr.. Hayt
said that for them the Forest Service
lines are dead lines. They refuse to
prospect on government forest re-
serve. said Mr.. Hayt. because they do
not know and cannot find out the
rules Of the bureau and would not
know but that they would be changed
from day to day. II they did.
Before the forest reserves were set
aside. he instanced. there were fifty
arf< In, 1A ,x,,Et Et,,sIt
tion. according to information received
by Mr.. Hayt, but now there is not a
one. .If the forestry laws had been
IN effect in the e-rly days" concluded
Mr.. Hayt. the state of Colorado would
never have been developed"
Specific objections were urged by
Mr.. Hayt. which Mr.. Potter said he
would take up with Chief Forester
Pipchot
Mr.. Potter answered that the raise
in prices marked in the 1908 book had |
not been put in effect and said that |
the homestead test had been whether |
the land was good for homesteading |
or not.
Judge Beaman cited the Increase in
Grazing fees and the refusal to grant
patents to homestcaders on land used
for grazing purposes.
Senator Teller emphasized the fact
that the problem Of water Is the great
est In the state. He declared that re-
serves should not be created where
mining or agriculture is possible. "The
best thing that could happen for
Colorado" he said, would be the re.
peal Of the forest reserve laws. The
forest laws" he added. ARE such that
they should not be created In free
country or amorr free people