The Dickinson press., 1910-09-10

next FEBRUARY. The people OF the
United States regardless Of party or
section should stand solidly behind 1t
and see that their representatives do
likewise. E3tR , DEa H. sts;s. ,
II any proof were needed that forest
protection is a national duty the recent
destruction of forests in the west By
fire would supply it. Even with the
aid Of the army added to that Of the
forest service the loss has been severe.
Without either it. would have, been
vastly greater. =. .a-,- M - -.
But the forest service. does more
than protect the national. forests
against fire. It makes them practically
and increasingly useful az WE'LL Dur,
ing the last year for which I haHsstha
figures the national forests .sweresused
by $1,000 'cattlemen with their herdsI
5000 sheepmen with their focks, 5000
timbermen with their crews and g.
900 miners. More thap 5000 apessens
used them for other special industries.
Nearly $4,000 settlers had the free use
of wood. s. Il aa .5ltl 81 fsit
The total resident population Of the
national forests is about a quarter Of
a million, which is larger than the pop-
ulation Of certain states.
More than 100000 acres Of agricul-
tural land have been patented or list
ed for patent within the forests, and
the reports Of the forest officers show
that more than 100000 people a year
use the forests for recreation, camping,
hunting, fishing and similar purposes.
All this is done, Of course, without in
jury to the timber, which has a value
of at least $1,000, 100000.
Moreover, the national forests pro
tect the water supply Of a thousand
cities and towns, about 800 irrigation
projects and more than 300 power
projects, not counting the use of water
for these and other purposes by indi-
vidual settlers.
I think that hereafter we may safe
~ disregard any statements that the
national forests are withdrawn from
settlement and use.
A Country Life Institute.
The investigations Of the country
life commission have led the farmers
of this country to realize that they
have not been getting their fair share
Of progress and all that it brings.
Some of u farming communities in
the Mississippi valley and in the mid
die west have made marvellous prog
ress, yet even the best of them, like
communities Of every other kind, are
not beyond improvement. while much
needs to be done in some other sec.
lions to improve country life.
AS yet we know comparatively lit
tie Of the basic facts of rural civilian
ton. The means for better farming
we have studied with care. but to
better living on the farm and to better
business. on the farm the farmers
themselves have given scant attention.
Last spring while visiting the cap
ital of Hungary, Budapest. I was inls
mensely impressed by the Museum o4s
Country Life, containing an extraordfs
nary series of studies in agriculture, In
stock raising. in forestry. in mining.
The exhibits were Of the utmost prac-
teal Importance and were also intense.
~ interesting and instructive.
l greatly wish we had such a mu-
scum in Washington, and some Of your
farmer congressman ought to get a full
and detailed report Of this Budapest
museum to be printed for distribution
In a public document.
Human Efficiency.
As a people we have not yet learned
to economize. One Of the virtues we
Americans most need is thrift. It Is a
mere truism to say that luxury and
extravaganza are not good for a ma
ton. So far as they affect character,
the loss they may be beyond
computation. But In the material
sense there Is a loss greater than is
caused by both extravaganza and lux
ury put together.
cessive loss to u people from prema-
ture death and avoidable diseases.
Wholly apart from the grief. the SUI
fering and the w~retchedness which
they cause. the material loss each year
has been calculated at nearly twice
what it costs to run the federal gov.
eminent.
In addition to the state and city
health officers and organizations, there
is urgently needed a federal bureau Of
health, to act, sc far as the national
government properly may, to relieve
our people from this dreadful burden.
Tho National Conservation Commits
sion.
One Of the most important meetings
In our recent history was that Of the
governors in the White House In May,
1908, to consider the conservation
question. By the advice Of the gov
ernor the meeting was followed by
the appointment of a national conser,
walton commission. The meeting Of
the governors directed the attention Of
the country to conservation as nothing
cleo oo,,ll hovro Eao~0 ~,~Al1o kLos -,2-1~