Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-03-03
FOOD FOR THOUGHT


The following facts sent to the press of the country
by Clifford Pinchot, president Of the National Conserva-
tlon Association, regarding the attempt being made to
turn the national forests over to state control, should
be read by every citizen. The facts are offered in the
form or a personal letter to the editor. The letter is
as follows:
Both In and out of Congress an ATTEMPT is being
mace TO turn the national forests, which now belong
to the whole people, over to the Western States. This
attempt was started because most OF the openings
through which the public lands and their resources
used to be stolen have been closed. The men who
have grown rich or who desire to grow rich by footing
the public domain are now facing hard times. These
men regard any change from national control as a
change for the better. for to them the present situation
could not well be worse. Although a certain number
of honest but mistaken men are behind the effort to
destroy the national forests, still in a somewhat extern
sive experience with land ~grabbers, l cannot recall a
Single one VINO was not an ardent friend OF this policy.
Some OF the men most interested deny that any
such movement exists at all. A partial answer is that
n provision to give the national forests and public lands
to the Western States was introduced and defeated at
the last session OF Congress, that many Western COVER
nors advocate it. and that more than a dozen bills to
promote OF carry it out are actually before Congress
The national forests. like the timber, the waterpower,
the grass where the forest is open, and the minerals
they contain, do not stop. and the use of them does
not stop, at State lines. They can be protected and
used with success only under a policy that is alive to
the interests Of the whole people, and not merely to
the interests OF any one section or State.
The heart Of the conservation policy is development
Nnd use. The United States Forest Service, now bitter
ly attacked by those whom it has prevented from
grabbing public resources, has always stood for prompt
development OF the national forests, and the use Of
them by the small man first.
Six hundred thousand people use the national forests
every year. The sheep and cattle which Craze within
their boundaries supply one-sixth of the American
people with meat. Every man, woman, and child In
the United States owns six thousand feet of lumber In
the national forests. Much of the timber in them Is
still too remote and difficult of access to be saleable
now; but as rapidly as 1t can be sold without loss and
without injury to the forest, 1t is cut and used. The
service has built more than eleven thousand miles of
telephone lines, sixteen hundred miles of road and over
thirteen thousand miles of trails. Forty thousand per-
mits for the use of timber free by settlers are issued
every year. Forty-Hve thousand, miners operate In
national forests, and the forests conserve the water
supply of 1,l75 towns and cities, and 324 water power
projects which furnish light and power for industries
Of every kind.
States is In private hands. Thirty-seven private owners
absolutely control about as much timber as the other
ninety-four millions of us have in the national forests.
What the nation has left must be protected for the use
of us all against the coming time Of need. and only the
national government can do that.
The Forest Service Is a clean and efficient organiza-
ton almost entirely made up of Western men. 1t has
always been and is today wholly free from politics.
Why should the American people run the risk of politi-
cal mismanagement and private monopoly by splitting
up the national forests between fifteen or twenty sep
arate States, most Of which have no forest services to
take charge Of them? 1t is bad business to multiply
organizations when one will do the work, especially
when that one is doing it well already.
If this movement were to succeed two billion dollars
be in danger OF passing by way Of State ownership into
private hands. But the greatest danger lies IN the
monopolies Of coal. waterpower, timber, and other
natural resources to which such private ownership in
Of how the Western States have squandered the lands
already granted to them, and the monopolies which
have resulted therefrom. There is a similar record in
many Of the Eastern States as well.
II this attack succeeds the public lands and other
public resources will be endangered In turn. l have
taken the liberty Of putting the facts In your hands
because I hope for your help in this fight.
Sincerely yours,
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.