The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-30

civ NOHuAllOhb arc IldlAIdluCOJ DOll
interests will be together on the for
estry question. 1t will be remember
ed that when the forestry problem
was new to the sheepmen, they also
endorsed it. If we remember Alright,
it was at the Weiser convention that
the Wool Growers first went on rec
ord. At that time they were inexper-
fenced, and jumped to the conclusion
that beautiful theory, when animat-
ed, would prove a pleasing reality.
Consequently they endorsed and &C
cepted Forester Pinchot and all his
ideas. However, it did not take the
Wool Growers long to realize their
error. Ever since, at each and every
meeting of the association, they have
condemned the policy as administered,
AS yet the ranchers have not been
troubled much, and owing to the wis
dom and forethought of Senator Hey
burn, may never be, unless indirectly
! by the ruin of the sheep industry.
Suppose the president had not been
stopped from creating forest reserves
ad libitum; then we would soon have
seen the ranchers in arms. When Ida
no becomes more nearly developed
and farming land becomes scarce,
then will we see farmers and ranchers
demanding the opening of forest re-
serves for agricultural purposes. We
imagine that those ranchers in the
Wild Horse canyon are not overly en-
thusiastic in their endorsement of the
Pinchot regime. The whole depart
ment has been conducted with an ar
rogant disdain of the rights and inter-
.ests of the common people. The Sig
nal is mistaken in stating that the
fight against forest reserve policy is
the old fight between the cattle men
and the sheep men. The first organic
ed and determined opposition to the
forest reserves came from north Ida
ho-from Shoshone, Kootenai, Bonner,
Latah and Neg Perez counties. There
are no big range cattle or sheep men
in those countries. The industries of
that section are mining, numbering,
and farming. The people up there
were up in arms, before the people of
southern Idaho ever knew what a re-
serve was. When the Idaho wool
growers were calling for more re-
serves the people Of north Idaho we're
protesting Soon the sheepmen start
ed to feel the effects; and then they
took up the cudgel. The ranchers
will be the next to drop in line
After eulogizing Mr. Pinchot a
while, the Signal proceeds:
THE idea of the forestry depart
ment to favor small holdings rather
than the great interests should meet
the general approval of the state for
1t Is far better for the community to
have two citizens producing than but
one.
Every country and state that has
shown marked progress has gone on
the theory of the closer settlement
idea; they have believed and quite
rightly, that 1t is better to have two
blades of grass growing in a certain
community than to have but one. The
strength of a community or state is
in the prosperity of many citizens.
fHhoV a tho oF
ways, the supporters of the towns,
and the protection of the commune
ty."
II the Signal had taken sound n.y.
pothesis, its conclusion would have
been correct. The idea of the forest
policy may be to favor the small hold
er, and to make room for two persons
where now one exists; but its actual
workings is to give the big holder
the advantage to the detriment of the
small man, to Craze one sheep where
three grazed before; to restrict and
retard the mining and agricultural
development Of the state. This Sec
lon OF Idaho is in a large measure
dependent upon the sheep industry's
prosperity for its prosperity. Every
one is affected more or less, directly
or indirectly, by the wool growers.
In saying that the theory of closer
settlement is the watchword of every
community of progress is correct. We
would like to ask the Signal if the
segregation of one-fifth of the area of
state for forest reserves promotes
closer settlement? If 1t does. we
would like to know the wherefor.
Even the lonely prospector is discour-
aged and hindered and even denied
the poor privilege of intelligently
prospecting the mineral region of
Idaho, which are embraced in the re-
serves. Under present regulations
the government officials decide wheth-
er or not the miner has the prospect
Of mine. The official makes no pre-
tense to a knowledge of mining and
yet he decides There ara rou a.,