The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-05-01
BY WILLIAM KENT

Former United States Congressman
from California.
n any consideration of the sub
ject of conservation, we must
- first realize that without access
to the land and its products. misery
and starvation are inevitable No
amount of effort can be productive,
nor is there foundation for any of the
arts or sciences, or anything that goes
to create civilization. to ameliorate,
or even to leave possible human ex.
istence.
If natural resources are seized upon
and fenced in against the public in
terest, the owners may extort from
the non-owners, and all ideals of equal
opportunity be destroyed under trib-
ute-la wing privilege.
The Public Domain originally was
invested in charge OF the Interior De
partment. The thirteen colonies re-
tanned ownership and jurisdiction over
the lands within their boundaries. At
first there seemed an unlimited sup
ply Of everything People never had
be cut. 1t was heedlessly alienated,
chopped, cleared and destroyed.
Passed to Lumbermen
Under every form of grant. bar
gain, script and fraud it passed into
the hands OF the lumbermen, with no
restriction against waste or destruc-
ton. Government timber was openly
and jestingly stolen wherever found.
The pine forests of the Northwest, in
Michigan. Wisconsin and Minnesota,
We're turned over to the tender mer-
cies Of private individuals.
can recall when white pine sold
in Chicago at sll per Thousand feet.
Next followed the yellow pine OF
the South. now almost exhausted The
express went next. and now under
the same sort Of auspices the great
Pacific Coast timber belt is being torn
out.
Alternate Public Property
The traditions OF the Interior De
partment have always been those OF
the alienation OF public property into
private hands There was doubtless
legitimate and a wholesome basis
underlying this attitude. for in the
pioneering and settlement, and the
fixed and stable conditions that went
with farm owning and homes. But
this initial tradition had nothing to do
with the destruction OF timber
Roosevelt Clifford Pinchot and
others. realizing the situation. sought
to create forest reserves. under the
Agricultural Department which had
not been bred with the idea Of Kidding
the Federal Government OF all its
possessions. The policy that has fol.
lowed the forest reservation has been
garingly distinct from previous ira
ditions, and there never has been a
time when there has not been an at
tempt TO wrest the forest reserves
from the Agricultural department and
place them upon the bargain coun-
ter OF the Department Of, the Interior.
Timber Going Fast
our timber is going fast. Ii is be-
ing slaughtered, wasted and uncon-
seionably exported Our finest red
wood trees are being split into grape
stakes when inferior growths could
as well. but not as cheaply, III this
use. The whole vista, with the ex-
ception OF the control exercised by
the forest service in the forest re-
serves IS a nightmare OF waste. inn
providence. graft and destruction
1t is no more soc alistic for the Gov
eminent 10 retain title TO the land
upon which timber grows, and to per
nit the harvesting of ripe timber
under proper conditions. than it is
to expend money on, river and har
Dor Improvements.