Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-05-14
National Forest Ellminat,ons Explaine

NatlOnal fSfeSC EllmlnatlonS ExplalneQ.
The protests which have been received
in considerable number BY the U. S.
Department of Agriculture against elm
mating from National Forests non-tim-
bered lands chiefly valuable for grazing
are regarded by Secretary Wilson as in
dicating that many communities fail to
realize the limitations within which the
Department must act in carrying out
faithfully the intent Of existing laws.
Most of the protests get forth the injury
which it is feared may result from un.
regulated grazing on the land to be
eliminated. Since, however, the lands
which it is proposed to eliminate are
neither forested now or regarded as
suitable for the future growing of trees,
the Government has no authority to
hold them as parts of the National For
ests after their actual character has been
determined.
The policy to be pursued with regard
to such lands was recently agreed upon
by the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the interior and jointly
laid before the President, who gave it
his approval. This policy is not an in
novation but is the same policy which
has always been applied by the Forest
Service in deciding where National For
est boundaries should be drawn. The
reason why lands formerly included in
National Forests are now being elimi-
mated is to be found not in change Of
policy, but in the fact that the actual
conditions we're ascertained last year,
for the first time, through careful bound
ary examinations.
The evils feared by those who are now
making protest against the exclusion of
the lands in question are usually of two
kinds. In many places residents find
themselves likely to suffer from an in
vasion of the range by outsiders. If the
grazing is uncontrolled, transient stock
may not only eat up the forage but de-
plete the range through over grazing,
to the loss and even the eventual ruin
of the local stock owners. Although
Secretary Wilson recognizes this may be
the case, he has pointed out to those
who make this argument that Govern
ment control of lands valuable only for
grazing was not contemplated by the
laws authorizing the creation Of National
Forests, except 80 far as is necessary to
secure practical administrative bound
aries.
Another ground of protest against the
eliminations is that administration by
the Departments of Agriculture has
already resulted in great improvement
to the water flow, or that unregulated
grazing will result in polluted streams
or serious damage to watersheds. In
some cases the increase in water supply
which has followed National Fores
administration is put as high as 25 pei
cent. To those who make this poin
Secretary Wilson is replying that every
effort has been made to safeguard wate
supplies;, that the eliminations proposed
are only aiong the borders Of the For
ests, and the protection of water flow il
recognized as legitimate reason for re
tanning brushland even though it is moi
likely ever to grow timber of CONNER
cial value. 1t is not denied that in som
cases the elimination of purely grazin
lands may possibly result in a certail
amount of stream pollution. but tn
Department of Agriculture holds it ha
no authority to- try to prevent thi
through National Forest administrator
of such lands. In the main it is BIZ
lieved that the interest of water-user
, have been we'll cared for in making tn
Examinations.