The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1909-05-12

scattered though they may be, WITHIN
the Forests. In the construction of
its roads and trails the General Gov
eminent every year spends within the
limits of the Forests of Idaho county
more money than the entire county
raises by means of taxation for similar
purposes. This money spent in OPP
ening up the mountain Businesses of
the county is distributed among the
residents of the county and adds
directly to the property valuation that
is the basis of our revenue, for those
who are employed in the improve
ment of the Forests are, as a general
thing, themselves pioneer farmers and
settlers on lands within the Forest or
Immediately adjacent thereto, who are
steadily adding to the permanent wealth
of the country. Those who are
familiar with the facts know that home
seekers constantly follow the Forest
Service trail builders and secure de-
sirable locations for permanent homes
as rapidly as such places are opened
up and made accessible by the con-
struction of trails. Instead of retard-
ing the agricultural development of
Idaho county, the Forest Service is
steadily and Systematically making such
development possible in places where
if it were not for the presence of the
National Forest, the country would
remain indefinitely beyond agricultural
reclamation and use.
1t is worthy of consideration, too,
that in addition to the money directly
spent by the service as indicated above,
Idaho county is annually in receipt of
a large fund from the General Gov
eminent derived from the proceeds of
sales of timber, grazing fees, and other
moneys, received primarily by the
Government from persons who indi-
vidually obtain benefits from the use
of the National Forest resources.
Those who secure timber for COM
mercial purposes from the National
Forests; those who, under permit,
Craze their stock upon the National
Forest pasture lands; and those who
otherwise use the lands of the Gen
eral Government within the Forests,
are the recipients of individual bene-
fits; benefits of substantial value. They
profit by the use of the property of the
public and il is but just that when so
doing they should pay the public for
the use of the publics property.
Payments made in this way constitute
the gross proceeds of the National
Forests and twenty-five per cent of
those proceeds 90 to the counties in
which the Forest are situated for the
benefit of roads, trails and schools.
Ihree-fourths to roads and trails, and
one-fourth to schools This fund,
which amounted to about S16, 900 last
year, in Idaho county, is distributed
as the local county authorities may
think most desirable, but preferably
within the limits of the Forests, and
is entirely independent of the sums ex-
pended by the Forest Service which
come from the National treasury.
Since twenty-five per cent of the gross
proceeds of National Forests 90 to the
counties affected for the purpose
stated, where, it may be asked, does
the remaining seventy-hve per cent
go? 1t passes into the National treas
ury and in great part off sets the APP
preparations made by Congress for the
maintenance and improvement of the
National Forests, which, within a
short time, will be self supporting,
even after allowing twenty-five per
cent of their revenue TO be diverted for
the direct benefit of the counties in
which they are located.
Whether or not the existence Of