The Glenwood post., 1910-07-30
H. S. Graves, Mr. Pinchots Predecessor,
Visits Colorado in Search Of Farm
> Lands in the Forests
PLOTTED BY THE STOCK MEN

Glenwood was visited last Tuesday
evening by no less a parsonage than
Chief Forester H. s. Graves who il
travelling through the country for the
purpose of investigating certain re-
ports made concerning the forestry de-
partment and getting at first hand
from the, stockmen and ranchmen their
views in regard to the administration
of the reserves.
Mr.. Graves is gentleman very easy
of approach and when sought out by
the Post man and interviewed about his
trip he said, 81 am here for the especial
purpose of investigating two accusa-
tions that have been made against the
forestry service the one is that there
are within the forest boundaries great
areas of good agricultural lands and
the other is that by refusing to throw
these lands open for settlement we are
seriously interfering with the develop
ment of this great western country.
AS to the first claim, 1 know nothing
ing this trip for the sole purpose of
being advised along that point. If
ch lands exist as per the claims of
Eur detractors I want to know it. I
want to see with my -axa.-eyes the
lands held within the forests out of
which good farms should be made AS
to the second accusation there is abso
lutely nothing to it. The forest service
has not nor has it ever had any dispo-
sition to prevent settlement upon and
development of agricultural lands"
Mr.. Graves says, however, that be-
fore he will consider the elimination
of lands from the forests he must have
proof of the agricultural character and
value of such lands and up to the time
he left Glenwood this proof had not
been furnished him.
Mr. Graves told Congressman Taylor,
in the presence of the writer, that he
made very plain to the stockmen as
sembled at Gunnison, tho object Of his
visit and asked them to appoint com
mittee to show him the agricultural
lands in the forests. They accepted his
suggestion and appointed T. W. Gray
and William Hartman who accompanied
him through Union and Taylor Parks
in the Gunnison and Sopris forests, but
they failed in their mission.
Cup to this time l have been shown
nothing, absolutely nothing, that will
in any way warrant the accusations
: that have been made against the service
.Ynd I think, after all of this clamor,
0that it is but just to me and to the
service that should have pointed out
to me some of this valuable land of
which I have heard so much.
"I asked Senator Ammons to accom-.
pany me on the trip from Gunnison,
but he said he could not do it, but he
has promised to meet me at Yampa in
the White River forest and 60 with
me the rest of the way and if there is
any good farm land in the reserve over
there hope he and the others can hnd
it, for am very anxious indeed to see
it.'
This is what he said without even a
tinge of irony, but with positiveness
of manner that indicated very plainly
that tie forester meant every word.
"w at l want now," the chief for
ester Sntinued, sis to find some one
who kibws where the large areas are,
to show me one of them, just one OF
them. must repeat that 1 think this
is but de me and I shall look for some
one to 1 int out these lands to me as
we go tlPugh the country"
81 don't know that we can find a
man to tcompany you through the
country, ,"Congressman Taylor answer
ed. "Butkt il . fact ths+ such land
really exik. 81 have written. the
county commissioners of all counties IN
the state Mich embrace any national
forest land Aking them to have investi-
n CATION made Ind report to me the afsas
they considef fultivable. These reports,
= when they al received, I shall submit