El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-07-30
Ell. PASO & SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY
CAN BLOCK THE SCHEME IF IT WILL

IT APPEARS that the portion Of the Mescaero Indian
reservation Cloudcroft which is TO be cut over
and its natural beauty utterly destroyed IS that part
which nearest Coudcroft and which has often been
visited BY picnieers and horseback parties ther little
jaunts It includes Silver Spring canyon and Elk canyon
Silver Spring canyon is Of the pretuest and most
delightful localities around Cloudcrof The canyon with
its fine natural parks and springs and streams us
grassy slopes and gades, its oweTy carpet its lovely
SsfaS Is only few hours horseback ride away from
Cloudcr0ft and whether for one-day picnic or for
camping TIP Of several days It offers one OF me pest se
around the mountain resort.
The lumber company which is about to begin cutting
the first $4,000 81 square mles says plainly
that expects to continue cutting under new contracts
until it has been all the reservation
We all know what "lumbering IN those mountains
means They may talk about carrying on the work under
U. S. forest regulations and al that, Dut Wnen an IS
said and done it means that all the large trees VIII be
cut out unsghtly stumps viii be left everywhere to de-
face the landscape there viii be lots of rubbish fires
VIII be started by careless woTken and by sparks from
saw mill stacks and locomotives ugly shaeks and huts
VIII be built stock VIII destroy the flowers and small
growth the face of nature VIII be Scared beyond repair
and the region viii be laid waste far as the living
generation Of people is concerned
Forest growth is slow up there. A hundred years
viii not suffice to the forest IN anything like its
present grandeur When It is cut over IS ruined so
far as its beauty and its capacity to afford pleasure are
concerned Many Of the trees that VIII be cut down are
IN IN 5oo ears old: these VIII be the first to be feed
It is more than a shame: It Is crime against the
people Of the entire southwest to carry out this project
Il is fair to say that the FL Paso Southwestern rail-
road had nothing to do with this scheme OF rum Inc
responsibility with the United States Indian bureau
Sells, the Texan who ought 10 De nearby
ashamed Of himself for countenancng such vandalism He
wants to benefit 500 Apache Indians and he authorizes the
destruction of the only natural park that VIII ever be
available to the public IN all this region
The administration that grie7es so pitnully over
Europes devastation does not hesitate TO destroy New
Mexeos park lands the beautiful mountains that are
source Of life and Joy and whose value would increase
with the passing Of time and the increase Of population
What kind Of man is it that weighs the few dollars
this timber viii bring In the market against the priceless
worth Of this natural park to the people OF the present and
the future? Il Is strange Interpretation OF public duty,
strange Sc Of national obligation TO 500 Apache In
dams that VIII induce Texan supposedly sane to afz
his signature to contract providing for the destruction
Of the peoples cherished and epaceabe heritage the
playground that Is sorely needed
And this after the government has acquired great
tracts IN the Appalachian mountains to Teorest them
Beautiful consistency. New Mexico evidently has little
standing at court.
L the southwest going to quit and let the govern
ent at Washington do It peases without further pro
test from US?
The Fl Paso & Southwestern railroad did not make the
timber contract but it has II in its power to do two
things: First to make that contract improbable TO its
ton to any greater extent than its prime duties
nor carrier compel il to do Let It refuse to take one
step to aid the vandalism until the courts compel It
And second it at least refuse to violate its own
pledges the Coudcroft community and to the people Of
the southwest It decline to allow any logging rail-
read to any part of the Coudcoft There
are two CIoudrof reserves the and the outer The
is secure the private property holders VIII to
that But the safety Of the outer depends on
the good faith Of the railroad company which has prom
ised that the timber VIII not be any part Of It.