Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-08-01
FOREST CHIEF GRAVES
VISITS GRANTS PASS.

In the forest reserves OF the nation
is the policy OF Chief Forester Graves,
who was in Grants Pass over Friday
night, having stopped here on his
way south after having been in Port
land and other northern cities for the
past week.
The head OF the forest service was
here on invitation from the CONNER
cial club. matters of policy regarding
the Siskiyou forest, and OF the change
Of the Josephine cave territory from
monument to a national park, being
questions presented to him.
Forester is Banqueted.
The distinguished visitor was met
at the depot, by the officers Of the
Commercial club, as we'll as by del
egation from the Josephine Fish and
Game Protection association. Follow
ing an informal reception at the ho-
tel, Mr.. Graves and a small party dis
cussed the questions Of interest
around the banquet table till a late
hour, and the forester convinced all
OF the fact that his administration
Of the reserves will be in the interest
Of the public. He stated that he
wanted to open to homestead settle
ment every tract within the reserves
that was suitable for agricultural
purposes, and would do so as rapidly
as the character of the tracts in ques-
tion could be determined. This, Mr..
Graves thought, was largely matter
for determination by the homestead
er himself and wherever a man was
found who wanted to make his home
within the forest reserve, he believed
he should be given the opportunity.
These homes, and especially COM
munities within the forests, said Mr..
Graves, were the greatest measure OF
protection that could possibly come
to the standing timber, the home
steaders forming a fire patrol that
would prove most effective in dis
counting conflagrations. He instruct
ed the full investigation Of the tracts
in the Siskiyou reserve that are want
ed opened to settlement, and there
seems no doubt about the opening OF
every quarter section that has value
for agricultural purposes.
The National Park Question.
Mr.. Graves expressed himself IN
favor of the creation of nationa
parks for the preservation of natural
wonders such as the Josephine caves
and for the maintenance of areas thai
would prove as Fairgrounds in theil
pristine state. He advised the plar
of campaign for the establishing o.
the park at the caves, but believed
that it should be made much largel
than the single township included IL
the caves monument.
The creation of game refuge II
the region Of the caves was discussed
at length, and it was the emphatic
opinion Of the forester that the cave
national park and the game refug,
should be established with the sam,
boundary lines. In the establishment
of this refuge and park Mr., Grave
stated that mining and other presen
interests should not be disturbed
voicing again his support Of the pic
neer who made use of the resource
OF the frontier, and who developer
them TO the advantage Of the Who'll
, people. The forester is himself
member OF the leading great gam
protective associations OF the Unite
, States, and at once endorsed tn
| movement OF the local association t
fill the picturesque Siskiyous wit
wild life.
Those participating in the banqu'
to the forester, and who presented th
j matters that are of local interes
! were President Kroh and Secretar
Quinlan Of the Commercial club
Superintendent Macduff of the Sisk
You forest; Attorney Sidler. presideI
of the Game and Fish Protection a
5 sociation: Secretary w. B. Sherma
of the same organization; NJ.
0pdyke. H. V. Anderson and Wilfor
Allen.
An effort was made to get the chi
. forester to stop over in the city Sa
. urday and make the trip out to Il
u caves. but having his plans mat
y otherwise, he could not change ther
u He did, however, announce his d
l. termination to return here later
the season and put in week in Il
u hills in the quest OF game and Ms
! He left for San Francisco on No.
v Saturday morning.