The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-06-10
GRAVES HAS A PLAN
DEVELOP THE FORESTS
1T SOUNDS FINE, BUT 1T is NOT
LIKELY THAT CONGRESS VIII.
APPROPRIATE THE MONEY.

Conceding that there is ground for
complaint because forest reserves oc-
cupy from 20 to go per cent of the
area of many counties In the western
Estates, Henry S. Graves, chief forester,
rejects all proposals advanced by the
people of the west for solving this
problem and proposes a scheme which
doubtless will be laid before congress-
In brief, he suggests that where ex-
listing resources justify it and the pub
lie need can be demonstrated future
receipts from the national forests be
participated and advance be made by
congress for the construction of roads,
advances to be returned to the treas
ury from the sums which later on
will be received when the timber can
be placed on the market to advan-
tage"
The Unlock Resources.
In other words, Mr. Graves con-
cedes the loss to many counties be-
cause large areas are tied up in for
est reserves and can not be taxed and
he admits that some relief should be
extended to residents of those cour,-
ties, who now bear an unjust burden
of taxation, but he emphatlcally de-
MES that these forest reserves are
blocking development or that their
resources are locked up.
The forests are not contributing
as they should to the development of
the communities in which they arc
located" he adds but he vigorously
protests against opening the forest
lands to settlement, in order that
that may be taxed. He says the for
ests must be retained by the govern
ment that their benefits can be
shared by the average man Instead of
serving to enrich few who might be
il position to secure control or
them"
Keep Forests Whole.
The problem, he says, must be
worked out in way which will meet
the immediate needs of the commune
ties, without breaking down the in
tegrity of the national forests. The
plan he advocates should be applied,
he adds, exclusively in those counties
where there is a considerable area of
forest reserve and so located that the
timber can not be marketed at the
present time, but which later will
yield a large revenue.
Lift Tax Burden.
Such a plan" adds Mr.. Graves,
would fully meet the local difficult
ties arising from the fact that the
forest reserves arN not subject 10
taxation. 1t would make the forest
resources Immediately realizable for
public improvements; it would ac-
development not possible
without public aid; it would stimulate
agricultural development; 1t would
relieve the now struggling communi-
ties from a burden of taxation they
would otherwise have to assume If
the development Of many national
forest communities Is to go forward
as rapidly as 1t should; it would hast
en- the development of the nationaf
forest resources and aid their pro-
lection; in every way 1t would work
to help the small man."
5ut---There is no Money!
The forester, however, overlooks
the fact that there is now a deficit or
nearly $110,OOOOc0 in the federal
treasury; he overlooks the demand
from all parts Of the country for
heavy expenditures in upbuiding the
army and the navy and is utterly un-
mindful of the impossibility of get
Ting from congress an appropriation
adequate to carry on this line OF
work, without an appropriation his
plan will fail and the present state of
The treasury is such that an appro-
Dration adequate, or even partially
adequate for this purpose, is not to
be had.