Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-08-27

Il StlNdtlOil 10 ne Il wise use WIN the
avoidance of waste and also the
avoidance of ownership monopoly"
and that such lands as are suitable
for agricultural purposes ought to be
placed in the hands of actual set
scented an address to the National
Conference of Governors at Boston,
!, Mass, last Tuesday on the topic most
important to the West, "Conserva-
| ton of National Resources" and in it
| particularly emphasized the need of
developing the states agricultural
| and water-power resources.
With the remark that Il feel sig
nally honored in being requested to
present to you my views on this most
important question, representing as
do one of the Far Western states
and one in which there yet remains
undeveloped an abundance of natural
resources" Governor Lister plunged
right into the keynote of his address
and his view of the proper conserva-
ton policy when he said:
Because of the fact that so many
different phases are involved in the
subject, it has occurred to me that
possibly a presentation of it's impor-
lance to my own state, and the degree
to which, as a state, we are affected
by the present federal laws and reg
ulations, might be of interest to you.
l will also endeavor to show what
has been done by the state of Wash
ington, insofar as is within its power,
to properly conserve it's resources and
develop them along lines that will be
of benefit to the state and it's con-
stantly increasing population, and
yet increase the value of those re-
sources, so that benefits may not only
accrue to the present generation, but
that the resources may also be of in
creasing value and benefit to future
generations. In the presentation 1
shall make, it will be necessary to
deal largely in figures, which l hope
will not prove to be uninteresting.
1.-The total area of the state of
Washington, including the waters Of
Puget Sound, which alone aggregate
2,291 square miles, is 69,127 square
miles or 44,241,2S0 acres. The total
area of forest reserves in the state is
1,66O,66O acres. OF this amount
1,S31,S34 acres are owned by the
state, by corporations or by private
individuals, leaving 9,S2S,S26 acres
as the actual area of forest reserves
within the boundaries of the state,
owned and controlled by the federal
government"
D,82S,S2G Acres in Reserves.
Following this, the governor gives
a tabulated statement showing the
area of the different reserves and
then proceeds to discuss the national
forests, saying
1.-The latest estimate of the stand
ing timber in the national forests of
species. with douglas fir, amabilis fir
and western hemlock predominating.
at S5,9O3,000,0 1000 feet. Since July
1, 1908, or in seven years, but 64S,
$4,000 feet of timber has been cut
from the reserves in the state. In
other words, in seven years consider
ably less than one-eighty-sixth of the
timber in the national forests of
Washington has been utilized. While
the present federal policy provides
for the sale of timber from the re-
serves, the forest service explains the
very small cut of the last seven years
as being due to the fact that timber
in the national forests is for the most
part more inaccessible than privately
owned timber; that it is poorer in
quality; that, standing on steep and
rough ground it is more costly to
handle; and particularly that the
present capacity of logging plants is
probably larger than the normal de-
mand for lumber justifies, resulting
in a relatively small demand for ma
tional forest stumpage."
Then, after referring to the Olym-
pus national monument with a pres
ent area of 3O9,720 acres and to
Rainier national park, which he de-
clared would take rank with the
Yellowstone and Yosemite as one Of
the great national Fairgrounds" the
governor spoke of the Indian lands:
1.-The latest figures l have been
able to obtain give the Indian popu-
lation of the state of Washington as
11,4S3. The unallotted Indian lands
in the state amount to 2,372,732
acres and include some Of the states
most valuable farming lands. But a
email nrOportiOn of the Indians in