The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1914-02-20
HELP REMOVE THE
STUMPS FROM LAND

Popular inded is the suggestion.
voiced by President Brown OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, looking to
government aid in clearing the stump
lands Of Washington. The LINDEN
Tribune, always alive to the good OF
the community, has this to say In 1ts
last number:
Mr. w. P. Brown, the new presi-
dent of the Bellingham Chamber OF
Commerce. has advanced . new idee
and given an important and tiriely
suggestion for assistance to settlers
on our logged-off lands.
Mr. Browns proposition Is worthy
one and should be pushed along ny
every one interested in the coming
and the welfare OF the settler. Every
commercial organization In the timber
states should take the matter up for
consideration and petition the West.
ern representatives in congress In an
endeavor to secure governmental AID
as suggested by Mr.. Brown.
Mr. Brown believes that through
strong appeal to the powers at Wash
ington, appropriations may be secu0
ed for the purchase Of powder to be
distributed among settlers who would
clear stump lands. 1t Is an establish
ed fact that powder Is the only ef-
fective method 80 far offered for the
removing Of the stumps. The settler
on these logged-off lands Is as much
entitled to the aid from Uncle Sam
as is the settler on arid lands. It
the government provides money for
grubbing sagebrush, 1t is quite as
legitimate for 1t to aid the settler on
stump land That financial aid from
the government would hasten the set
tlement of valuable lands in Western
Washington and Oregon there is no
doub. Unquestionably the propost-
tion, II presented. would meet with
opposition from some Of the congress
sional members from Eastern and
Middle West states, so that united ac-
tion and persistent effort through
strong organization Is necessary for
the success Of the proposition.
through by congress, could be made
workable by an extension of the r.
cIamation nctz 1904, thxp91G 4ich|
the interior department e enxbl6A 70
build reservoirs, construct canals
and carry wxtcr - mill Hons Of 4cres
OF former desert lands, Giving hUntes
to thousands OF families The money
advanced by the government for pow
der could be paid back BY the settler
in fifteen or twenty small annual pay
mnts, forcing the land to return It's
original cost.
Commercial logging Of the forest
lands leaves the country in barreu,l
deserted and almost worthless condi-
tiOn. In this state there are approx
mately 100000 acres Of logged-off
lands scattered throughout twenty
counties, much Of which appears to
be perfectly impenetrable wilderness
OF stumps, logs and brush, relics OF
logging, forbidding the homeseekers
to enter upon the work Of clearing
and cultiyating the soil. To bring
these tracts under successful cultiva-
tion represents a cost OF from $50 to
5000 an acre, the expenditures depend
ing largely on the facilities for hand
ling the stumps and logs. The indf-
vidual settler, with no money at his
undertakes an almost hope
less task in endeavoring to clear even
sufficient land to make garden plat
and let the light Of sunshine into his
home.
No man can go upon logged-off
land and carve out successful farm
from the remnants of commercial log.
ging without the assistance of capital.
Same may gain semblance of pros
perity. but it is too often 1t the *
pense of life or health that shows
age in both men and women years
before the burrows of time should be
marked on their faces.
The Brown suggestion seems to be
possible, and should be energetically
advanced. The strongest demands
upon congress for aid in the matter
Of settling and clearing lands should
be made. 1t is an obligation on the
part Of the government to aid its indt
vidual citizenship in developing pro-
ductiye and profitable lands. 1t las
for long lent its aid to powerful com
binations and organized money cor
porations. 1t is about time to do
something for the little fellows.