The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-06

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We must see to II that adequate
terminals are provided In every city
and town on every improved water
way. terminals oren under reasonable
conditions to the use of every citizen
and rIgidly protected against monopo
ly. And we must compel the railways
to cooperate with the waterways con
tinuously. effectively and under rea
son0ble conditions.
Unless we do so the railway lines
will refuse to deliver freight to the
boat lines. either openly or by impos
ing prohibitory conditions. and the wa
terways once improved will do com
parativeIy little for the benefit Of the
people who pay the bill.
The National .Ferssts.
The people Of the United States be
lieve In the complete and rounded de
velopment Of inland waterways for all
the useful purposes they can be made
to serve. They believe also in fores,
protection and forest extension.
The fight for our national forests In
the west has been won. After cam.
paign In which the women Of Min
nesota did work which should secure
to them the perpetual gratitude of their
state Minnesota won her national for.
est osd will keep II. but the fight to
create the southern Appalachian and
White mountain forests In the east Is
not yet over.
The bill has passed the house and
will come before the senate for q vote
United States regardless Of party or
section should stand solidly behind i;
and see that their representatives do
likewise.
II any proof were needed that forest
protection Is n national duty the recen:
destruction OF forests In the west by
IRE would supply It. Even with the
aid OF the army added to that Of the
forest service the loss has been severe
Without either 1t would have been
vastly greater.
But the forest service does more
than protect the national forests
against fire. 1t makes them practically
and increasingly useful rs we'll. Dur,
ing the last year for which I have the
figures the national forests were used
by $4,000 cattlemen with their herds
5000 sheepmen with their hocks. 5000
timbermen with their crews and 45.
600 miners. More than 5000 persons
used them for other special industries.
Nearly $4,000 settlers had the free use
Of wood.
The total resident population Of the
national forests Is about quarter OF
Q 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 II done, of course. without In.
Jury to the timber. which has a value
Of Mt least $1,000. 100000. ...
Moreover. the national forests pro-
tect the water supply Of 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.
! 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 1t brings.
Some Of our 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
tons to improve country life.
A. yet we know comparatively lit.
tie Of tire b"s.c ecc's OF r:rcl ciri!,,a.