The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-28
FOREST SERVICE
IS REASONABLE
Chief Pinchot issues New Or
der on Free Use of Timber
to Miners.

Something over a month ago the specldl
committee on mining in national forests
Of the American mining congress, held
conferences with Chief Clifford Pinchot
Of the forest service, touching chiefly on
the rights Of miners and prospectors TO
use timber free of cost in the develop
ment OF properties that may be located
in forest reserves. On his return to
Washington Chief PinchOt sent com
munication to the American Mining con-
gress' committee in Denver, explaining
that the forest service was inclined TO DO
everything In its power To encourage the
opening OF new mines. A copy of Chief
PinchOts letter reached Secretary w Z.
Nigus OF the local branch of the mining
congress yesterday. 1t is quite lengthy
document, but the meat Of IL, as il af-
fects the prospector and miner is found
in the following closing paragraphs;
Liberal With Free-Use Permits.
The service desires that men engaged
IN prospecting or developing mining
claims in the national forests should have
a liberal free use of timber from the for
ests If the timber on any claim is not
sufficient for its development, so long as
IL Is a prospect and not producing mine
When a prospect becomes q mine and be
gins TO produce ore. 1t Is then CONNER
cial enterprise and no more entitled 10
free use of government timber than any
other business. This policy will be fol-
lowed I'M the administration of the ma
tiOnal forests. and a conveniently acces-
sibie and permanent supply of timber for
mining will be provided whenever prac-
ticable.
II believe that the free use regulations
Of the forest service can be improved and
Tor that purpose ] viii at once issue the
following additional Instructions:
IN granting free-use permits, forest
officers should make every effort to pro
vide, without unfairness 70 other inter
ests entitled to consideration and without
Ia a the forest that nTOEUarfgT
or miner working for the preliminary de-
VelOpment or exploration of his claim
shall be denied the free use of timber
needed and suitable for these purposes
within reasonable limits, if there is not
upon the claim TO be developed a suff-
cient amount of timber for such uses.
Gaze should also be taken to avoid the
marking for use under free-use permit
of any timber which cannot be used by
a prospectOr or miner or any small user
to whom a free-use permit Is issued.
Large users of special material who OPP
crate, or can operate SaWmllls, may
properly be required to take with such
special material other merchantable tim
Der which il Is necessary TO remove for
the future producJiveness af the forest
or to avoid rendering the remaining tim
Der on the area understandable. But II
Is believed that very few cases Will arise
which viii make the enforcement of this
Re striction necessary as to free use per-
mittees."
u hope that these new instructions will
remove any possible doubt as to the
friendly interest Of the forest service in
tha mining industry
II am sure YOUR committee is consider
ing carefully the difficulties on both sides
of the situation we have disct ssed and
fully realizes that the problem we are en-
deaVoring 10 solve presents difficulties
on both sides. I think you will agree with
me that the necessity for examination OF
the validity Of mining claims prior to OPP
rliCatiou for patent should be eliminated
as far as possible; and that everything
in reason should be done To facilitate the
efforts of the pTospeCtOr and miner TO
open up and develop the mineral wealth
within the national forests At the same
ume-and the mining congress has always
been in hearty accord with this policy
the rational forests safeguard the welfare
OF many other interests and have an i'm
portant function in the upbuilding of the
western country. Therefore. they should
be protected against injury, whether
through mining claims or nOn-mineral
timber lands or otherwise. That is what
we all desire.
The forest service will be glad to CO.
operate with you in an effort TO develop
a plan. as nearly as possible automatic
in its operation, which will prevent in
Justice of any kind. An extended exam
nation along this line Will be made dur
ing the coming summer by the service,
and the result of it viii be laid before
YOU in the fail. IN the meantime I be
iieye We may congratulate ourselves that
real progress has been made"
Ii will be noted that Mr.. Pinchot states
IN the last paragraph of his letter that
extended efforts win be put forth TO
develop a plan whereby the restrictions
Of the forcs service viii in no wise cause
injustice of any kind to mining men. As
further conferences will be he'd with Mr.,
Plnchot by the mining congress commit
tee, those who find any of the regula-
tons of the forest service ineQuitable,
should communicate at once with the
American Mining Congress forestry COM
mittee, Denver. Colo.