El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-14

not included IN national forests because
| of their isolation or their special value
for agricultural or mineral purposes,
| it is apparent from the evils resulting
| by virtue of the imperfections of exist
| ing laws for the disposition of timber
lands that the acts of June, 1873,
| should be repealed and law enacted
! for disposition of the timber to be
Inject to appropriation under the ag-
ricultural or mineral lands laws.
Wants BaIIinger Upheld
What 1 have said is really an epitome
| of recommendations of the secretary of
the interior in respect to the future
! conservation of public domain in it's
present annual report. He has given
close attention to the problem of dis
position of these lands under such con-
ditions as TO invite the private capital
necessary to their development on the
one hand, and the maintenance of the
restrictions necessary to prevent mo-
nopoly and abuse from, absolute owner
ship on the other. These recommended
tions are incorporated in bills he
has prepared, and they are at the dis
position of congress.
L earnestly recommend that ali sug-
gestiOns which he has made with re-
spect TO these lands shall be embodied
in statutes and especially, that with
drawals already made shall be validated
Sc far as necessary and that
the authority of the secretary of
the interior to withdraw lands for the
purpose of submitting recommendations
as to future disposition of them where
new legislation is needed shall be made
complete and unquestioned
Forest Reserves
The forest reserves Of the united
are under control of the department of
agriculture. with authority adequate to
preserve them and to extend their
growth so far as that may be prac-
ticable. The Importance of the main
tenance of our forests cannot be exag-
gerated.
The possibility of a scientific treat
ment Of forests in order that they shall
be made to yield a large return in
timber without really reducing the sup
ply has been demonstrated in other
countries and we should work toward
the standard set by them as far as
their methods are applicable to our
conditions.
RefOrestration.
1t has been proposed and a bill for
the purpose passed the lower house in
the last congress that the national gov
eminent appropriate a certain amount
each year out of the receipts from the
forestry business of the government TO
institute reforestratiOn at the sources
of certain navigable streams to be Sc
lected by the geological survey with
view to determining the practicability
of thus improving and protecting the
streams for federal purposes. I think
a moderate expenditure for each year
for this purpose, for a period of five
or ten years would be the utmost bene-
fit in the development of our forestry
system.
Upwards of 4OO.OOO.OOO acres of forest
land - this country are in private
ownership but only three per cent of ii
is being treated scientifically and with
a view to the maintenance of forests.
The part played by forests in the
equalization of the supply of water on
watersheds is a matter of discussion
and dispute, but the general benefit
TO be derived by the public from the
extension of forest lands on watersheds
and the promotion of the growth of
trees in places that are now denuded
and that only had great flourishing
forests, goes without saying
The control to be exercised over pri-
vate owners, in their treatment of for
ests which they own. is matter for
state and not national regulation, be-
cause there is nothing in the constitu-
ton that authorizes the federal govern
ment to exercise any control over for
ests within a state, unless the forests
are owned in a proprietary way by the
federal government.
Inland Waterways
come now TO improvement of in
land waterways. He would be blind. in
deed, who did not realize that the peo-
pie of the entire west and especially
Of MiSSiSSinpi
been aroused to the need for the i'm
provement of our land waterways.
The Mississippi river with the Mir
souri, on the one hand and the Ohio
on the. other, would seem to offer a
great natural means of interstate
transportation and traffic. How far. if
properly improved, they would relieve
the railroads or supplement them in
respect to the bulkier and cheaper COM
moditfes is matter Of conjecture.
No enterprise ought to be undertaken.
the cost of which is not definitely as
certained and the benefit and advantage
of which are not known and assured
by competent engineers and other au-
thority When, however, a project of
a definite character for Improvement
of a waterway has been developed so
that plans have been drawn, cost
definitely estimated, and traffic, which
it will accommodate Is reasonably prob
able. I think it is the duty of congress
to undertake the project and make pro-
vision therefor in the proper appropria-
ton bill
Dams for Ohio River
One project, which answers the de-
scription 1 have given, is that of in
PRODUCING dams into the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo, so as to maintain at
all seasons of the year, by slack water.
a depth of nine feet. Upward of seven
of these dams have already been con-
structed and six are under construc-
ton while the total required Is 5f
The remaining cost is known to be
s63 600, 600
1t seems to me that in the developJ
ment of our inland waterways it would
be wise to begin with this particular
project and carry it through as rap
idly as may be. 1 assume from reliable