The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-04-24
ROOSEVELT AND FOREST RESERVES.

Col. Theodors Roosevelt has got away with
transactions that would have forever ruined the
reputation of another man. In the name of con-
servation Of our natural resources President
Roosevelt created forest reserves that ultimately
benefited railroad companies to the extent of
hundreds of million dollars and at the expense
of the people of the United States. Let us give
an instance cited by Congressman HUMPHREYS of
the state of Washington. Congressman Hum
phries says:
BY executive order vast forest reserves created
almost entirely reeess and of them
completely So At first these reserves did not include
fed with this condition. and again by executive order
about 100000 acres OF land belonging to the Santa Fe
Railroad included in these treeess forest
Immediately thereafter, great agitation was com
menced by the railroad Sana F) and the Forest Service
R O the
first that the railroad Santa Fe) should take equal
their lands in solid bodies This the railroad (Santa Fe
lands of equal value anywhere in the United States This
proposition the railroad tSanto Fe) again promptly re-
1T may be we'll to recall this opportune and critical
time. Mr. Paul Morton was one of the great powers in
the Santa Fe railroad and that he had influence in CON
servaton circles He himself great 'conseva-
ZIONIST In one Of these reserves sailed the San Fran
o. land belonging to the Santa Fe railroad This land
practically useless for purpose Eight hundred thou
FIVE to fifteen cents per acre The railroad insisted that
it be permitted to trade this land for for the
made this offer and spite o. the protest OF the Com
missioner OF the General Land Office and in spite of the
fact that the Secretary of the Interior had twice
mended against this proposition il accepted with the
single restriction that 10000 of o3s0O0 should be
located south of the thrYseventh standard parallel
latitude and south of the Tehichpa Range of mountains
and Under this contract urged by the Forest Service,
woFtAess reeess waste the Santa Fc railroad selected
ZGOo acres of the best OF all public lands in the
Republic,
These selections were made with great care in
domain everywhere secured | have traced $4,000
OF this selection the State of Washington, although
rai within S miles OF that state In the $4,000 acres
in the state OF Washington is found to-day some of the
finest tmbered land upon this globe
The Bureau of Corporations in its recent report
that of this land thus received for nothing by
the Santa Fe railroad, is worth from $lOo to $500 per
for the timber alone The $4,000 secured in the
state o Washington alone worth many times what
the entire 93SOOO acres originally owned by the railroad
is worth
The history of this nation up to that hour contains
transaction that compares in disregard of all rights of
the public with this transaction in making this prncey
Morton and the other officers OF the Santa Fe railroad
they permitted TO select for those 93aO0o alb
soutely worthless 9SOOO of the best public land
beneath the flag That is true That is taken from the
records and challenge any to dispute it,
The Grand Canyon Forest Reserve was created IN
Arizona. This contained $4,000 of Santa
Fe land also These $4,000 were also worthless But
in the name Of conservation and with the active assist
of the Forest Service for these $4,000 of
worthless land the Santa Fe railroad permitted to
select $4,000 OF the best of the public lands that yet
1t was afterwards discovered that through
mistake the railroad had been allowed take 5000
much. but far have been able to discover
This little insignificant corrected.
Thus, than million and quarter of our
public lands given in the OF conservation
the Santa Fe railroad for practically consideration
it any wonder that the officials OF the Santa Re were
yreat 'conservationists'F