Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-01-29

2-The classification of all public
lands is necessary for their administra-
ton in the interests of the people.
3-The timber, the minerals and the
surface of the public lands should be
disposed of separately.
4-Public lands more valuable for
conserving water supply, timber and
natural beauties or wonders than. for
agriculture should be held for the use
of the people from all except mineral
entry.
5-Title to the surface of the remain
ing nonmineral public lands should be
granted only to actual home makers.
6-Pending the transfer of title to
the remaining public lands they should
be administered by the government and
their use should be allowed in a way to
prevent or control waste and monopoly.
The present public land laws as
whole do not subserve the best inter
ests of the nation. They should be
modified SO far as may be required to
bring them into conformity with the
foregoing outline of policy.
Next to our need of food and water
comes our need of timber.
Our industries which subsist wholly
or mainly upon wood pay the wages of
more than 100000 men and women.
Our forests now cover $4,000, 900
acres, or about one-fourth of the United
States. The original forests covered not
less than S5O,OOO,0OO acres.
Since 1870 forest fires have destroyed
yearly average of so lives and $780,
100000 worth of timber. Not less than
50,000,000 acres of forest is burned
over yearly. The young growth de-
stroyed by fire is worth far more than
the merchantable timber burned.
One-fourth of the standing timber is
lost in logging. The boxing of long
leaf pine for turpentine has destroyed
one-ffth of the forests worked The
loss in the mill is from one-third to
two-thirds of the timber sawed. The
loss of mill product in seasoning and
fitting for use is from one-seventh to
one-fourth
We take from our forests each year.
not counting the loss by fire, three and
a half times their yearly growth. We
take 40 cubic feet per acre for each ~
cubic feet grown; we take 260 cubic
feet per capita, while Germany uses 81
and France 25 cubic feet.
We tax our forests under the general
property tax, method abandoned long
ago by every other great nation. Pres
ent tax laws prevent reforestation of
cut over land and the perpetuation of
existing forests by use.
The conservative use of the forest
and of timber by American citizens
will not be general until they learn how
to practice forestry. Through vigor-
GUS national campaign in education, for
baC 70 in ba no.
of American citizenship. The basis al
ready exists upon which to build a
structure of forest conservation which
will endure.
Under right management, our for
ests will yield over four times as much
as now We can reduce waste in the
woods and in the mill at least one
third, with present as well as future
profit. We can practically stop forest
fires at cost yearly of one-ffth the
value of the merchantable timber
burned.
The sole source of our fresh water is
rainfall, including snow. From this
source all running, standing and ground
waters are derived. The habitability
of the country depends on these waters
Our mean annual rainfall is about 80
inches; the quantity about 215, 100000,
100000 cubic feet per year equivalent
to 10 Mississippi rivers.
Of the 7O,OOOOOO,OOO cubic feet an,
nually flowing into the sea, less than
1 per cent is restrained and utilized
for municipal and community supply;
less than 2 per cent Cor some 10 pei
cent of that in the arid and semi-arid
regions) is used for irrigation; per
haps per cent is used for navigation
and less than per cent for power.
For irrigation it is estimated thai
there are $2OO,OOO,O0O invested in dams
bitches, reservoirs and other works fol
the partial control of the waters ant
that 100000, 100000 cubic feet are an
nually diverted to irrigable lands, ag
gregating some 10000 square miles. Elk
> cept in some cases through forestry, few
{ catchment areas are controlled, and few
reservoirs. are large enough to hold the
= storm waters. The waste in the public
r and private projects exceeds 60 pei
cent, while no more than 25 per cent Of
r the water, actually available for irri
e cation of the arid lands is restrained
I and diverted.
I The water power now in use is $3.50,
900 horsepower, the amount running
| over government dams and not used i
f about 100000 horsepower; the amour
S reasonably available equals or exceed
e the entire mechanical power now in use
a or enough to operate every mill, driv
e every spindle, propel every train ant
e boat and light every city, town ant
e village in the country.
+ The product of the fisheries of tn
: United States has an annual value o
$57, 100000.
Our wild game and fur bearing animal
: have been largely exterminated. T.
G prevent their complete extinction tn
s states and the United States have takel
: in hand their protection, and their mum
d bers are now increasing. Forest gam
d yields over $1O,OOO,OOO worth of foo
4 each year.
s With game birds the story is muc
Y the same-wanton destruction until tn
]. number has been greatly reduced, fol
}, lowed in recent years by wise protec
e ton, which in some cases allows tn
r remnant to survive and even to in
e crease.
i Since the greatest of our nationa
t assets is the health and vigor of tn
S American people, our efficiency must dc