Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-17
Of PLAN TO
REDUCE FOREST
RESERVES
Cooperative Work Between
Departments win Result in
Release Of Large Area of
Public Domain.
Morning Journal Bureau,
G13 Mursey building,
Washington, ID. g., Feb. 10.


The examination Of NATIONAL forest
boundaries carried c. by the forest Of
ficefs last summer and fall upon the
initiative 81 Secretary Wilson and un-
der his direction. has resulted in new
information, which Will make 1t pos
sibfa to restore to the unreserVed pub
lie domain much land along the edges
Of and within forests that is not best
suited to forest purposes. This is to
he done under a plan just approved by
President TAFT. The plan was formu-
lated by Secretary Wilson and Secre-
tary Ballinger jointly and submitted to
the president in the following letter:
February Z, 1910.
The President. the White House.
Sir: After having very carefully
considered the matter Of ~eliminations
from and additions 10 the national
forests we respectfully recommend
tina the following general policy be
adopted:
Il. Lands wholly or in part covered
with brush or other underground
which protects stream flow or checks
erosion on the watershed of any
stream important to irrigation or to
the water supply of any city, town or
community, or open lands on which
trees may be grown. should be re-
tanned within the national forests, un-
their permanent value under cul-
tiVation is greater Than their value as
a protective forest.
-. Lands wholly or in part covered
with timber or underground or cut
over lands which + more valuable
for the production of trees than for
agricultural crops, and lands denscly
stocked with young trees having a
prospective value greater than the
y. 49, - sf., 4. MI Coz "a 4rptatvltnnppl pttr-
noses. should he retained within the
national forests.
-. Lands not either wholly or in
part covered with timber or under
u owth. which are located above tim
ber line within the forest boundary or
in small bodies scattered through the
forest. making elimination impractic-
able or limited areas which are neces-
sally included for a proper admins
trative boundary line, should he re-
tainea within the national forests.
"a. Lands not either wholly or IN
part covered with timber or under
growth. except as provided for in the
preceding paragraphs. upon which II
is not expected to grow trees should
he eliminated nom the national for
we have tho honor to be
Very respectfully, your obdieni
servants,
(signod) JAMES WILSON,
Secretary of Agriculture.
tsirnedl m. a. BALL1NGER.
Secretary Of the Interior.
A definition OF the lines along
which action should lie taken was
called for by the fact that reports and
mans are now In the possession of the
|department Of agriculture which SHOW
the character Of the lands and the
|eover ALONG the lines of the national
forest boundaries. The purpose OF the
department in securing this inlormh-
ltlon was TO make possible a CORRECTION
Of the boundaries on the prlhclple,s
nov npprOVed by the president. Tor u
mas never been Intended that the ma
tional forests should include agricnl-
tural land or grazing land not suitanl'
for forest Plans Tor gain
erine the data were drawn up under
Secretary wilson's direction a year age
band instructions given the national
| forest officers last May. As q result
the boundaries can a be more care
fully corrected than has ever peior'
been possible, ,t-,
are found 10 be called for are of rela'
lively minor Importance but in theii
lnerrepate they open TO settlement =
Ilarre mount of land. The applica'
ltion of the rules which the president
has approved viii mean the early res,
| toration 10 the public domain 81
100000 acres or more Of national for
| est land. This is something over : pen
icent Of the total national forest ifes'
Tbree.tcnths OF the forests have yet
10 be mapped.
some of the land is suitable for dry
hand agriculture. though the greater
nart is grazing land. In idaho, which
has a large national forest area. aboul
40. 600 acres will be eliminated, "I
which "a per cent Is tillable. Elimina'
Itions in similar proportion VIII b.
made in a number OF the other west
Tern states which have large mouh
- t ...ts,xn1 sArpGfN