The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-17
Chief FORESTER
TALKS PLAINLY
Has No Apologies TO Make for
Conduct of His Bureau in
the Past.
PRESIDENT WILL BACK HIM
MEMBERS or LEGISLATURE SIT
UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
PRESIDENT WILL BACK HIM

DenVer. March l6.-1nTading the heart
Oh the country which has been opposed
10 the policy of the governments for
estry service, Clifford Pinchot. govern
Hient forester, in an address tonight be-
lore the legislature of Colorado, vigor-
ousiy defended his administration from
the assaults made against it. After de-
claring that he had no apologies to make
Ior the policy of the forest service. Mr.
Plhchot stated that no backward step
adopted.
Mr.. Pinchots address was in response
70 an invitation from the sOint assembly.
state Senator Elias NJ. Ammens, an OD-
ponent of the policy of the forest serv-
zee, Mr.. PinchOt made a Tejoinder to
senator Ammons' address.
In his opening declaration Mr.. Pinchot
said that the forest service is anxious
Tor cooperation with every interest not
antagonistic to the public welfare which
uses or can use the ma .iOnal forests He
had come out here, he stated, not only
10 declare his principles. but to state also
that he proposed to stand by them. He
said that he would treat every complaint
made with view TO avoiding misunder-
standings, prevent injustice, promote de-
Nelopment and carry forward in co-opera-
tlon with the people of Colorado a policy
which means so much to them and fu-
ture generations.
IF the regulations are found to work
badly, he pointed out, they should be
changed, and If the law is unjust it should
be amended. but until il is amended the
forest service is bound to execute il in
the best way it can
Authorized by President Taft.
Mr.. Pinchot declared that he was au.
thorized by the new administration to
say that the general policy of creating
and maintaining national forests may he
regarded as definitely and finally fixed.
no srl7 limo Of fax- for
which the forest service stands are en-
1orsed and viii be supported by Presi-
dent Taft.
What I have come here to do is to es-
tablish such relations with the people of
Colorado who use the national forests
and are affected by them as will be for
the best interests of the state and the
nation.
THE forest service exists not only to
protect the national forests. It exists
lust 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. other western state
No more complete mistake about the ma
tionai forests has ever been spread abroad
than that they are shut against develop
ment and use. During the last fiscal
year 25O4 mining claims and 3.759 agri-
cultural and miscellaneous claims were
was cut: SS63S4 NJ. B. F. of timber was
sold; 412l grazing permits, 3,lH special
use permits and S03T free use permits
were issued. The total number of per-
mits issued to June 50. 1898. was 165,06s.
Colorado Benefited.
tsQf the total amount received from those
hhO received direct benefits from the use
of the varied resources OF the national
forests of Colorado last year, % per cent,
or $50 76l.2S. was turned over to the state
To be used in the development and main
tenance OF roads and the public school
system.
The amount which Colorado receives
each year for this purpose will increase
as the forests reach a higher and higher
state of development and the best pos
sible use is made of every resour~~. Du-
ring the last fiscal year the total mount
of business transacted by the forest serv-
lice increased more than As per cent over
that of the previous year, and it was
handled with but 20 per cent increase in
money available. A knowledge of such
facts as these should set at rest once
and forever the claim. sometimes mistak-
enly made. that the national forests are
closed against development.
I'm the immense amount Of business
transacted over so large an area. il was