The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-02-12
A Timely and Worthy Suggestion

!
Mr.. w. p. Brown, the new presi-
dent of the Bellinham Cha o
Commerce has advanced new il
dea. and given an important and,
timely suggestion for assistance to,
settlers on our logged-off lands.
Mr.. Browns proposition is wor-
thy one, and should be pushed a.
long by every one Interested in thel
coming and the welfare of the set
tier. Every commercial organiza-
ton in the timber states should
take the matter up for considera-
ton and petition the Western rep
| resentatives in Congress in an ell
deavor to secure governmental aid
as suggestde by MIR. Brown.
Mr. Brown believes that through
strong appeal to the powers 1T
Washington, appropriations. may be
secured for the purchase of pow
der to be distributed among set
tiers who would clear stump lands
1t is an established fact that pow
der Is the only effective method so
| far offered for the removing OF The
stumps. The settler on these logged
off lands is as much entitled 70 aid
from Uncle Sam as is the settler on
arid lands. If the government pro-
vide money for grubbing sage
brush it is quite as legitimate for
it to aid the settler on stump land.
That financial aid from the govern
ment would hasten the settlement
of valuable lands in Western Wash
| ingt0n and Oregon there is no doubt
| Enthusiastically the proposition, il
presented would meet with oppo-
sition from some of the congress-
ional members from Eastern and
| Middle West States, so that
united action and persistent effort
| through strong organization is nee
essary for the success of the prop
OsitiOn.
| The plan, if accepted and put
| through by Congress could be made
workable by an extension of the
reclamation act of 1902, through
which the interior department is
enabled to build reservoirs, con
struct canals and carry water 10
millions of acres of former desert
lands, giving homes to thousands
of families. The money advanced
| by the government for powder could
be paid back by the settler in Is nr
| 20 small annual payments. forcing
| the land to return its original cost.
i Commercial logging of the forest
lands leaves the country in a bar
rem, deserted and almost worth
less condition. In this state there
are approximately 100000 acres Of
"A. D.. h
/ out 20 counties, much of which
appears to be perfectly impenetrable
H wildernesses of stumps, logs and
i brush. relics of logging, forbidding
i the homeseekers to enter upon the
i work of clearing and cultivating the
soil. TO bring these tracts under
i successful cultivation represents Il
cost of from $50 to 5000 an acre.
the expenditures depending large
ly on the facilities for handling the
/, stumps and logs. The individual
settler, with no money at his conf
mand, undertakes an almost hope
less task in endeavoring to clear
even sufficient land to make a gar
den plat and let the light of sun
shine into his home.
i NO man can go upon IoSSeu-oil
: lands and carve out a successful
farm from the remnants OF cnnlmei-
cial logging without the assistance
of capital. Some may gain a SEMI
! bl"nce of prosperity, but it is too
! often at the expense of life Or
health that shows age in both men
and women years before the fur
rows of time should be marked on
their faces.
) The Brown suggestion seems to
be possible and should be energet-
ically advanced. The strongest de-
mands upon congress for aid in the
matter of settling and clearing our
lands should be made. 1t is IN OBJ
legation on the part of the govern
ment to aid its individual citizen
ship in developing productive and
profitable lands. 1t has for long
lent its aid to powerful combina-
tions and organized. moneyed cor