The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1914-04-10
ASKS FOR LAND THAT STATE
MAY BE ABLE TO
RE-FOREST

W. Cll OCdIC lOI OoLCA, iAl@o
issued the following appeal to owners
II logged-off land unfit for agricultur
al and grazing purposes, requesting
hat such land be decided to the sta .e
or the purpose of reforestatiOn:
10 the Owners of Logged-off Lands.
We take the privilege of addressing
GU upon subject that is, as we view
it, one of the most important now he
ore the people of the State of Wash
ingtOn, namely, the reforestation of
logged-off lands, which are not fit for
agricultural pursuits, but for the
growing of timber only. There are
hundreds of thousands of acres OF
such lands in this state from which
The timber has already been removed
and a greater amount upon which the
timber still remains. This land
S absolutely worthless for any nur-
pose but that of reforestation, and
the holders thereof probably realize
that they cannot afford to pay taxes
upon it after the timber has been re-
moved This department, after Civ
ing to this matter considerable
shoueht, is of the opinion tilayss all s5s
such lands should be held by the state
and systematic plan of reforesta-
ton worked out. We are also Of the
opinion that there are many holders
of large tracts of this worthless land
who are willing to give to the state
for the purpose above mentioned, con-
siderable areas thereof; in fact many
have expressed their willingness SO to
do. We have been informed that in
some of our Eastern states some OF
the large owners have given to such
states very large tracts of these
lands, deeming it best to have the
state reforest the same than for such
owners to hold them and pay taxes
thereon. We firmly believe that there
are in our own state many who are
willing to pursuie this same course,
and as above stated some have al
ready signified their willingness in the
matter.
It may seem to some that we are
exercising a good deal of nerve in
putting this proposition before you,
but we have the nerve to do anything
80, 70. hn =
OF the state, and it will take nerve,
and lots of it, to get back upon this
logged-off, worthless land and Sec
ond crop of timber to take the place
of that which have been taken there
from. This state should never be
without a goodly supply OF timber,
and we are asking the loyal citizens OF
our state who are the owners OF tracts
which are suitable only for reforesta-
tion to give to the state at least
portion of such tracts, and start the
reforestation ball rolling, which VIII
accumulate as it travels along, ana
when it arrives at its final reSunS
place. it will have attained such mag
nitude as will make the donors prouo
of the fact that they had part III
it's making. Let us carefully harvest
our present crop of timber and Wnen
that is gone may we have seen 10 II 3,
that another is ready for the axe anu
saw.
We are enclosing blank sheet up
on which may be noted such donations
of land as you may desire to MAKE
giving the description of sucn ianos'
When a conveyance of such lana y
made it should provide that TINS iano
shall be held by the state forever ier
the purpose of reforesting the saMp.
All of the lands now owned by t4e
state which is only fit for the GROWING
of timber, should, after the timber y
removed. be held and reforested.
Will you not please respond 20 tnis
plea and do your utmost to or'ne
about condition which you and those
to follow will be proud Of!
with very best wishes, and trust
ing and believing that we shall have