Evening star., 1909-08-28
RESORT TO DREAMING
Common Sense Displaced,
Says McHarg,
ANENT IRRIGATION IN WEST
Visionary Theories Declared to Be
Paramount Among Advocates.
CONTRADICTS FORESTRY STORY
Lumber Supply of the Country in
No Danger of Demolition,
He Says.

Common sense has been displaced by
visionary theories. already proved unsuc-
cessful in the problems of the VESTS de-
velopment. according to Ormsby McHarg
Assistant Secretary of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor, who is outspoken
in the declaration that too much dream
ing has been indulged in in dealing with
the government irrigation projects and
forest conservation policies in the west.
Mr. McHarg handles vigorously the sub
ject of the "uplift' movement. declaring
that to have directed an effort of uplift
among the American farmers was an in
suit to the finest element in the country's S
body polite and the ''absurdest Of absurd
dreams"
Forestry Bureau Mistaken.
Mr.. McHarg in. an interview fatty con-
tradicts the assertion of the forest serv-
ice that the lumber supply of the country
will virtually be exhausted in another
generation If the present rate of cutting
is not curtailed.
There is enough timber standing in
the state of Washington alone to supply
this country for fifty years. he said.
Vast supplies remain in other states,
said the assistant secretary, sumcient to
period. which could not and need not bt
estimated. The abundance of the forests
was such that the alarmist statements as
to approaching exhaustion of supply were
utterly unfounded, he asserted.
Furthermore" said Mr.. McHarg, "the
forest sservice has been put in possession
of facts and figures proving the truth OF
what 1 say, and it has failed to make
them public"
"Dreamlike" Methods.
Methods too dreamlike are being pur.
sued in our forest administration. 1t i:
attempted to designate what tree the
logger may cut down. and that which hi
may not. No knowledge of logging Ii
applied Men who are. doing the practica
developing work, Of the west are hindered
and thwarted, and you hear nothing bu
cursing from them for the present meth.
DDS Of forest conservation.
"Out near Cheyenne recently a woman
settler went on a forest reserve and Gu,
rails for a small corral. The fores,
this heinous crime. What do you think
the attitude Of every man in that COM
munity is toward the forest service:
That's the feeling you encounter through.
out the west.
Leave the west alone. Let it go ahead
and develop. Let the red-blooded mer
out there do the work. It won't be long
then tin the east will be the back door OF
the nation"
Charges Under Investigation.
Mr.. McHarg said there was much com.
plaint in the west against the reclamat atior
service as 1t has been conducted. lex.
travagance and incompetency are the
charges that have been made" he ex.
planned. land these are now being in
vestigated, / am informed, in the present
tour of the west by Secretary OF the In
terror Ballinger and the Senate commit
tee
Mr.. McHarg said he knew that in engi-
neering projects Of the reclamation serv-
Ice in the state Of Washington, 1t had
assured settlers that the cost would be
no more than $35 an acre. THE cost ID
already $50 an acre." said the assistant
secretary, '.and the end is not yet