Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-14
GIVES FORESTS PERMANENcE

Washington, Dec. Pas a result
of land classification work, more than
eight million acres were eliminated
from the National forests in the last
fiscal year and, In addition, oyer LOO
individual tracts within the Forests
were made available for homestead
entry, which emphasizes the necessar-
lily permanent character of the Nation
Ial Forests, and points out the import
ance of definitely determining the
status of the land which the Forests
contain.
The National Forests are gaining
in stability through the land classlfica-
ton work. 1t is important for the
general public to know what lands are
to be retained permanently by the
government, and what lands will be
available for agricultural settlement.
The whole forest enterprise is based
on the assumption of permanence. All
the work is conducted with a view to
constructive development of the prop
erty and its constantly increasing use
~fulness.
Every timber sale is made with a
view to future consequence. The work
of protection from fire is not only to
prevent the destruction of standing
timber but to save young growth ard
encourage the nature reproduction on
lands which have been Injured by prev.
ious abuse. Millions of trees are es-
tablished each year which will not
come to maturity for q very long time,
A regulated system of grazing looks TO
the upbuilding of the forest range, as
we'll as to its present use; and the in
vestment of public funds in extensive
improvements is predicted on the per
manence of the government enterprise,
The need for consolidating land own
ership where government and private
lands are interlocked IS pointed out by
Mr.. Graves, chief of the Forest Ser
vice. Congress has already authorized
an exchange of lands on the Florida
the Oregon and the Whitman NatioDaI
forests. Under the same policy ex
changes have been or are being nego-
tiated with South Dakota, Montana,
Idaho and Washington for school lands
in the National forests located in those
states. The consummation of three OF
these exchanges now awaits final ap'
prevail by congress.
Other measures which have a far
reaching significance in relation to The
permanence of the National forests
the report says, are the appropriation
by congress at its last session of ter
million dollars for the construction o.
roads within the forests and that Of
three million dollars to extend the Ma
tional forests in the eastern. mountain:
by purchase. The appropriation fol
the construction of roads will permit
the opening up of regions heretofore
inaccessible, win greatly increase tht
use of the resources in the forests, viii
shorten lines of travel across the states
and between communities, will stimu
late prospecting and mining in .minera
regions and will aid community up
building.
The Importance of having publ,
forests at the headwaters of importan
streams has been recognized and great
ly emphasized through the a%ppropria
ton of So, 0oe. 900 for. continued pur
chases of lands begun under the SO
called Weeks Law. The work o
Establishing these forests has beel
started under the most Favorable
auspices, and its discontinuance woul'
have been peculiarly unfortunate
With the new appropriation the pur
chases may now go forward with
view to blocking out and extending tn
various units.
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