The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-11
CONSERVATION OF FORESTS

- It Is of the most vital importance to the welfare of the United States that its forests be better protected and better handled than in the past. Torthis policy the Democratic Party na.uofTal necessity -There must be wen-fnanaged forests in order to meet the requirements of the people for timber and other forest products. WeIl-managed forests are also neces- sary for the protection of the noun tain slopes. from erosion and for their beneA&ial &snA AstA 5a the distribution of@rSlnfa1I and the regulation of waterfIow.
 Until recently but little thought was given to the protection of our forests, and in consequence vast areas of tim Der lands have been destroyed by fire and the productiveness of the forests has. been seriously reduced.
 R study of the timber supply of thse world shozvs4definftely that in the long run the United States must be elf-supporting in the supply of tim Der, excepting such special classes of wood which do not grow in our cli- mate To do this, it is essential that devastating forest fires be stopped and that a system of conservative hand ling of our forests be inaugurated which will insure a continuance of forest growth. This can be accom- pIished only by the united efforts of the federal government, the States, and the private owners of timber land.
 The first necessity of forestry in this country. is the efficient protec- ton and administration Of the forests owned by the public. The Democra- tic Party inaugurated and has done much to develop our system of na- tional forests. Aggregating nearly 1s0.0OO.00O acres, those forests arc Sill for the most part inaccessible and undeveloped. Liberal support of the national Forest Service, such as will enable the full protection of these valuable public forests from fire and other destructive agencies is impera- tive. The Democrats recognize that the forest problem is one which can not be solved by the private in- dividuals nor by the several States.
 Eminent conservationists contend that the national forests should be retained permanently in the hands of the Federal Government. NFuIly 90 per cent. of the nafionaf forests occur on the watersheds of navigabIe rivers or interstate streams. The problem Of handling these great areas in the interest both of the nation and of the individual States and communities is a great one. Their timber supplies will be needed in States far beyond the local boundaries containing them These should provide for develop meft s5xhfch- win enable the full utilization oS their natural resources In such a way as to meet the require ments of those using them today and those who will be dependent upon them in the future.
 The segregation of agricultural lands in the national forests should be so -conducteLr asn to- lead to bona ade7 home building ahd agricultural deveIopme ent, and not in such a way as to permit, under guise of tine Homestead law. the acquisition of lands more valuable for timber, wa ter powers, and other uses which would lead to the monopolistic con- t=cI of natural resources to the injury .ff the general DubliS.
 The Democratic Party favors the closest cooperation between the For est Service and the individual States Tn the solution of those problems of forestry through cooperation in de- ~eloping the science of forestry. edu- cation in developing State forest poIi- cies, and in actual assistance to the States in fire protection as is now be- ing done under the Weeks Law on the head waters of navigable streams 1 a number of States.
 The chief duty of the Forest Ser