Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-23
P|NcHOT THEIR IDEAL
Lumbermen of Northwest
Heap Honors Upon Him.
CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION
Formerly Regarded as a Very I'm.
desirable Citizen.
IMMENSE TIMBER PRODUCTION
Investment in Saw Mills Estimated
to Be $50, ooo, 900 in
Oregon Alone.
CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION
TIMBER PRODUCTION
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
PORTLAND, Ore, September II. 1900.
Clifford Pinchot has been canonized by
the lumbermen of the Pacific northwest,
and they have placed a halo upon his
broad and beautiful brow-his apotheosis.
Only a few years ago-not more than two
or three-they were denouncing him as
malefactor Of 'despotic privileges and an
undesirable official, and If he had come
out here then they would have made him
very uncomfortable. But today they have
given banquet in order that they might
have an opportunity to heap honors upon
him. All Of the big timber men in the
state have handed him bouquets and
have told him that he is good and great
1t is a notable change In public opinion
one of the most remarkable that ever oc-
Cured; and it is not only q triumph for
the forestry policy Of the United States
and the young man who has devised and
carried it out against powerful and far-
reaching influences, but 1t has even
greater significance as demonstrating the
candor and the honesty Of the forest
owners in this section Of the country.
Thomas H. Carter. who represents the
state of Montana In the United States
Senate. still believes that Pinchot Is un-
wise and unfair and unfit to be trusted
with Official authority. But Mr.. Carter
will come down like the rest of them very
soon and Join the procession that follows
Pinchot in his triumphal career.
Senator Carter expresses the opinion OF
men who still feel the pressure OF Official
authority. which is compelling them to re-
spect the public property. But today
there is no opposition to the forestry
policy of the government as devised and
enforced by Clifford Pinchot, except for
selfish and personal reasons.
Some of the Directors.
The sheep men Of Montana do not want
to pay the government for pasturase
upon the forest reserves. because they
have enjoyed it for nothing until recent
ly. The men who have been stealing
timber from the government lands are
still opposed to having foresters ana
rangers and other government policemen
protecting the public preserves. CERTAIN
the government for property and privi-
leges which they have been accustomed
to use without compensation and 1t will
take them a long time to compose them
selves to the custom of paying rent. But
the people OF Washington. Oregon and
California, particularly the lumbermen.
who were most bitterly opposed to the
forest policy few years ago. are now
its most enthusiastic advocates. ana are
gradually adopting the rules P1nchot hao
prepared for the forest reserves In pro-
lection Of their own private property.
Cutting by selection will come next. and
it Is not necessary to be prophet to pre-
dict that within a few years the lumber
paying rangers to protect their forests,
but will be cutting their trees by selec-
ton and replanting their timber lands
as rapidly as they are cleared.
Mr.. Pinchot's Position.
In his speech to the lumbermen here
today Mr.. Pinchot said:
III forestry methods are properly ap
piled, particularly In Oregon. the timber
can be perpetuated and furnish for use
between 1900, OOO, 900 and 1900, COO 600 feet
dant to meet all demands from your state.
AS I understand there is now disposed Of
through the lumber market about 1900,
100000 feet annually. You have ideal
conditions for reforestation and with the
encouraging outlook In the Pacific north
west for this industry hope to see every
advantage taken of so favorable a situa-
ton.
If forestry is to accomplish it's best
results in this state the work must be
ests, but also on private holdings. OIL
the more than 100000, OOO.OOo feet Of tim
Der in your state, something more than
half will probably be found, when final
serves. and the remainder in private own
ership. AS a rule the private lands carry
better stand of timber to the acre than
the national reserves, because the best
timber was taken up first.
THE forestry service is trying not only
to introduce good forestry methods on the
national reserves. but seeks also to show
private owners of timber lands that it
Is to their interest as a business propo-
sition, to practice forestry on their hold
ings. For this purpose our service is
working IN very close Cooperation with
lumbermen and forestry associations in
the northwest.
Conditions In Montana.
Il have just come from Montana. where
there Is very much less timber than in
Oregon. The actual cut in that state has
been about 3c0.OOO,O 900 feet a year. l es-
innate that when the national forest
service can be put completely under prop
er management, and the full mature
product Of the forests on the national re-
serves there can be cut annually, we shall
be able to get from the reserve lands of
Montana not less than 100000. 600 feet of
timber annually, or nearly twice what
Is being cut at the present time from
the whole state. What Is better, that an
nual yield can be made permanent, under
the plan Of cutting that will be pursued
by the service.
Il see that the present cut In Oregon
exceeds ], 5OO.oOO,OOO feet. There is no
reason whatever why a considerably
larger annual cut than this should not be
secured from the forests Of Oregon in
perpetuity. As soon as these forests can
be put under a proper management. SO as
to secure permanency for the yield which
is found to be the greatest that can be
taken from them without impairing the
future, the people Will commence to real
lie these posi- olities.
THE forest service is working not to
injure. or des roy the lumber industry,
but to benefit it and make 1t perpetual.
1t is a mat: n of very great Importance
that the Ia is cut over and over and on
which reproduction Is poor should be
properly looked after at once.
An Important Problem.
"All lands that will produce more for
the people of this state by intelligent use
under good forestry rules should be kept
devoted to forests. but all land that will
vito 10 he L., ocrrn oil