The Glenwood post., 1909-03-20
PINCHOT FACES LEGISLATURE
Tells Colorado People That Only Law
Breakers Are to Suffer at the
Hands Of Department

Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot who
has been assailed by the cattle men Of
this and other states, came to Denver
Tuesday and faced the Legislature and
gave them some strong talk on the for
es. reserve system and of the future
plans Of the department. He had no
apology to offer for the fact that the
government had decided to protect the
trees, but assured his hearers that ev-
cry step would be taken to remove the
undesirable features connected with the
system.
Mr.. Pinchot g address was in response
to an invitation from the joint assem-
bly,. His opening statement was re-
piled to by stste Senator Elias M. Am
mons, an opponen. of the policy of the
forest service. Mr.. Pinchot made .
rejoinder to Senator Ammons' address.
In his opening declaration Mr.. Pin
chot said the forest service Is anxious
for cooperation of every interest not
antagonistic to the public welfare that
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 sad that he would treat
every complains made with a view to
avoiding Misunderstanding, prevent in
justice, promote development and carry
forward in cooperation with the people
OF Colorado policy which means 80
much to them and future generations.
"H the regulations are found to
work badly" he said, "They should be
changed and If the law is unjust it
should be amended, but until it is am
ended, the forest service is bound to
execute it in the best way i: can,
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
be regarded as definitely and finally
fixed and that the general lines of pol
icy for which the forest service stands
are endorsed and will be supported by
President Taft.
"What I have come here to do is to
establish such relations with the people
of Colorado who use the national for.
ests 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, but it
exists just as much to develop the ma.
.ional forest and the states in which
they lie, and it has no stronger desire
than to promote and to foster the de-
velopment of Colorado and every other
western state. No more complete mis-
take about the national forests has
ever been spread abroad than that they
are shut against development and use.
During the last fiscal year, 2,5O4 min
ing claims and 3,739 agricultural and
miscellaneous claims were Investigated.
392,7s9 NJ. B. F. of timber was cut
1856, 1884 NJ B. F. of timber was sold;
24,l27 grazing permits, 3,141 special use
permits and 30,377 free use permits
were issued. The total number Of per.
mits issued to June 80, 1908 WAS 1863,
06s
| OF the total amount received from
those who received direct benefits from
the use of the varied resources Of the
national forests of Colorado last year,
25 per cent, or $59,76l.2s was turned
over to the state to be used in the de-
velopment and maintenance of roads
and the public school system.
The amount that Colorado receives
each year for this purpose will increase
as the forests reach higher and higher
state of development, and the best pos.
sible use is made of every resource.
During the last fiscal year the total
amount of business transacted by the
forest service increased over 46 per
cent. over that Of the previous year,
and it was handled with but 90 per
cent. increase in money available. A
knowledge of such facts as these
should set at rest at once and forever,
the claim sonnet imes so mistakenly
made that the national forests are
closed against development.
"In the immense amount of business
transacted over so large an area, il
was inevitable that mistakes should be
made. do not doubt that in isolated
cases injustice has been done, and
wherever such injustice was brought to
my attention, it has been corrected
The mistakes are insignificant in am
ount, and importance, compared to the
| sr<oI1 nonc,e11;-hn.J IA ~,n,,a@ 1,n IN