Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18
Invaded the Enemy's Country
and Addressed Legislature
Of Colorado.
WILL HELP THE SMALL MAN
The Forest Service Does Not Propose
to Increase Rich Man's PYoAt-De.
MES story That National For-
ests Are Closed sgainst
Development.

Denver, Colo, March 1s.-lnvadins the
heart OF the country which has been
opposed to the policy Of the governments
| forestry service, clifford Finchot. govern
ment forester. In an address to-day be-
| fore the Legislature OF Colorado. vigor-
ousiy defended his administration from
the assaults made against It. After de-
claring that he had no apologies to mako
for the policy Of the forest service. Mr..
Pinchot stated that no backward step
would b. taken in any sAlutary policy
adopted.
Mr.. Pinchot's address wa in response
to an invitation from the Joint Assembly
His opening statement was replied to by
State Senator Elias NJ. Ammons. an
opponent Of the policy OF the forest SER
vice Mr.. P!nchot made . rejoinder to
Senator Ammons's address.
| In his opening declaration, Mr.. Pinchot
said that the forest service IL anxious
for cooperation with every interest not
antagcnistic to the public welfare which
uses or can use the national forests.
| He had come out here. he stated. not
only to declare his principles but to
state also that he proposed to stand by
them He said that he would treat every
| complaint made with a view to avoiding
misunderstandings. prevent injustice. pro-
mote development and carry forward
In cooperation with the people OF
Colorado policy which means so much
to them and future generations. "If the
| regulations are found to work badly" he
pointed out, they should be changed, and
II the law is unjust It should be amended,
but until 1t Is amended the forest ser
| vice Is bound to execute II in the best
| way 1t cam
Mr.. Pinchot declared that he was an
thorized by the new administration to
say that the general policy Of creating
and maintaining national forests may
te regarded az definitely and finally hxel
and that the general lines OF policy for
which the forest service stands are en-
dorsed and will be supported by Presi-
dent Taft.
What I have come here to do Is TO
establish such relations with the people
e. Colorado who use the national forests
snd are affected by them. as will be for
the best interests Of tho State and til.
nation.
THE forest service exists not only to
protect the national forests. IT exists
Just as much to develop the national
forests and the States in which they lie.
and it has no stronger desire than to
promote and foster the development OF
Colorado and every western State. No
more complete mistake ABOUT the ma
t'onal forests has ever been spread
abroad than that they are shut against
development and use. During the last
fiscal year. e.5N mining claims and 3.7S9
agricultural and miscellaneous claims
were investigated; ssA 1ss II. B. p. Of
timber was cut: 1854 N. B. r. of tim
ter was sold: ?4.lN grazing permits. 3,1%!
special use permits. and So.sT FREQ use
permits were issued. The total number
o: permits issued to juno -, 1919. was
1t,;06S.
HAS HELPED COLORADO.
"Of the total amount received from
those who received direct benefits from
the use OF the varied resources Of thu
national forests OF Colorado last year
Is per cent. OF $5s7s1.is was turned ovel
to the State TO be used IN the develop
ment and maintenance OF roads and thu
public school system.
THE amount which Colorado receive
each year for this purpose will !ncreas
az tho forests reach a higher and higher
state Of development and the best posi-
lie use Is made Of every resource. Dur
ing the last fiscal year the total amour
, Of business transacted by the fores
II service increased more than "a per cent
y over that Of the previous year. and
: was handled with but % per cent. In
10 crease in money available. A knowledg
"a c: such facts as these should set at res
Il crce and forever. the claim sometime
4 and so mistakenly made. that the "a
, tional forests are closed against devel
il ornent
q IN the immense amount Of cuisines
- transact over so large an area, 1t wa
- inevitable that mistakes should be MADE
a do not doubt that in isolated cases IN
II justice has been done. and vhereve
d such injustice has been brought to m
attention, 1t has been corrected. TIL
mistakes made are insignificant i
amount and importance compared to til
good accomplished. II must be renen,
" tered that injustice must be avoided n
It much to the government as to the user
y @. the national forests. and that II ther
were no attempt on the part OF dishones
e. men to get possession or the propert
n OF the people in ways contrary to Law
e care OF that property would not b.
" obliged to take the precautions to pro
Ia tect 1t which are now absolutely necea
J. sary
!, WILL CORRECT MISTAKES.
'If-by mistake Justice has bee
re done to any man. It will bs corrected
" 20 far as have the power. But remen1
n Der two things: In the hrst place. tn
ID forest service Is not responsible for tn
g law as II exists or for the rulings OF tn
.r department OF the interior. but II 10 gov
h erned both by the law and By thes
D. rulings with both. In most Particular
It is In hearty accord. bur n either
wrong. 1t isn't within the authority Il
the forest service to correct It, Second
Us. during the last hseal year timbt
worth more than 100000 standing
'" invalid mining claims was saved to IN
yeople Of the United States by the AZ
81 nm!nations OF mining claims. The TO-
10 es. service has no apologies to make Il
NJ having defeated the men who tried
Va get this timber under color OF the mil
~ ing laws. Where similar illegal attemP
s. ore made in the future. It proposes
q. defeat them II it can. In every sing
ar instance, whether the attempt 10 to tel
Of tho claim for timber, for power. or Y
te any other than legitimate mining pI
CIR poses. On the other hand 1t will do l
Is best to help the legitimate prospecto