The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-05-28
BILL TO ABOLISH
BIG ALASKA RESERVE
BIG EXPENSE AND SERVES NO
USEFUL PURPOsE-PINCHoT
OF COURSE, OPPOSES.

Convinced by testimony taken on
the Alaskan railroad that there was
never any justification for the creation
of the Chugach forest reserve in Alas
ka, the senate committee on territor-
les has reported favorably the Pitt
man bill revoking the proclamation OF
President Roosevelt by which this re-
serve was created. Opposition to this
legislation from the Pinchot camp is
anticipated, particularly as Mr.. Pin
stance, for the creation of the reserve
but Senator Pittman believes the facts
will justify abolshing the reserve, not
withstanding the protest.
1.-THE Chugach forest reserve says
the committee in it's report, embraces
II 100000 acres of land, and blankets
the whole coast of Alaska from Cooks
Inlet to Controller bay. 1t contains
only S,4S3, 100000 feet of timber, which
averages only III feet per acre. The
timber is of an inferior grade, is un-
tit for export and can not compete
with the timbers Of the United States.
The only demand for the timber is for
purely local use by prospectors, miners
and farmers in the development of the
territory. The amount of such timber
annually used for such purposes viii
have little effect in diminishing tn
quantity standing.
Costs Much, Produces Little.
"rhe total amount of timber sole
last year by the government on the
Chugach reserve yielded Il totai vi
$4037 The forest service is now ask
ing an appropriation in the pending
agricultural bill of $4,000 for the
maintenance of the reserve. This for
est serves no purpose for the protec
| ion of watersheds, as the watersheds
consist of eternal glaciers. The SER
| luired to prevent the destruction OF
he forest by fire, because OF The en-
,essive rainfall.
"The committee believes the main
|
public purpose, while it is an Interior
| .nce with the proper administration Of
J che land laws of the United States,
with the development of the territory,
and an unnecessary expense to the
government"
Does Not Affect Coal Withdrawals.
The bill of Senator Pittman express
ly provides that the abolition of the
,hugach forest reserve shall not al
feet coal land Withdrawals applying to
lands within the Chugach reserve, nor
shall it affect other Withdrawals of
those lands for public purposes. But
! Ill lands not covered by specific with
drawal are restored to entry under the
general land laws, and the timber, such
as it is, is made available for use,
without the restraint that has been
placed about it by the forest service.
The Chugach reserve is one of those
that has been maintained by the gov
eminent at a heavy loss, the admin
stration costing four times as much
as the revenues. But this reserve is
distinctive in one respect. 1t is the one
reserve under American control where
patrol is not necessary, for there is nc
danger of fires because of the excessive
rainfall, there is little or no danger OF
illegal cutting of timber, because OF
the slight value of the timber, and lief,
unprotected, the lands of the reserve
would be quite as safe as they have
been in the care of force Of rangers
who have cost the government $4,000
a year.
Whether the Pinchot opposition will
be strong enough to defeat the Pitt
man bill is a question. The Showing
In favor Of abandoning the reserve Is
lconceded to be strong. But Pincho
will fight, because he is the one mar
responsible for the creation Of the re-
serve.