i9o8 NATIONAL FORESTS AND PUBLIC OPINION 8i 



and the pre-emption and settlement policy of the Government represents^ 



of the arable portions of the public in the highest degree, beneficence to- 



lands have rendered it important that ward all interests, and peculiarly to 



we should reclaim the waste places the rights of the American people as a 



and make them productive through a whole. We are having an example of 



wise irrigation system which lies be- the excellent influence of the present 



yond the capacity of individual ef- rules of our Forestry Bureau in the 



fort." • treatment of the forests in the north- 

 ern portion of this State. There we 



Ex-Gov. Geo. C. Pardee, of CaH- have learned that the purpose of for- 



fornia, sums up the problem of refor- estry is not crudely to preserve forests 



estation as follows : by forbidding the cutting of trees, but 



"The natural storage reservoirs, to encourage the proper cutting of 



from which the now arid country once trees so that forests may renew them- 



received its moisture, lay beneath the selves. The McCloud Lumber Com- 



forests that once covered the now pany, of McCloud, near Mt. Shasta, is 



naked mountains. These forests now doing all of its cutting under the 



should be restored." direction of the Bureau of Forestry, 



Continuing, he adds : "Thanks to with results satisfactory to it and high- 

 President Roosevelt and Gifford Pin- ly beneficial to the country. None of 

 chot, the head of the U. S. Forest Ser- the good things that have come to 

 vice, both of whom are true and loyal pass under President Roosevelt's ad- 

 friends to California, the Government ministration will redound more to his 

 of the United States is doing much to credit than the development of the 

 solve these problems that confront Bureau of Forestry and the extension 

 us." of its influence and authority. With 



' this will rank, I am satisfied, when the 



J. O. Davidson, Governor of Wis- years unfold their result, the benefi- 



consin, is heartily in favor of National cient workings of the National Irri- 



Forests, and testifies as follows : gation Law." 



'T am pleased to advise you that I 

 am always glad to do what I can to The Governor of LTtah, John C. 

 assist the cause of forestry, both State Cutler, endorses the National Forest 

 and National, believing that the pro- policy of the Government in the fol- 

 tection and proper use of the forests lowing convincing statement : 

 is one of the most important questions "1 am strongly in favor of the Na- 

 which confront us to-day. I am tional Forest policy of the Govern- 

 heartily in favor of the President's ment. The preservation of the forests, 

 policy in creating National Forests, the conservation of water, and the 

 as they mean timber for the settlers transmission of an adequate timber 

 now and in the future, and the protec- supply and consequent wealth to com- 

 tion of those streams which are all- ing generations demand the enforce- 

 important to the people of the West, ment of this policy. Opposition to it 

 The remaining forests in the Appala- is usually based on short sighted mis- 

 chian and White Mountains should be understanding, or selfishness. In the 

 conserved, and I trust that Congress interest of the bona fide settler and 

 will appropriate the money for their honest home-maker, the Government 

 purchase." should maintain the National Forests 



already created and establish others 



To President Benjamin Ide Wheel- where necessary." 

 er, the distinguished head of the Uni- 

 versity of California, we are indebted From Charleston, South Carolina, 

 for this splendid and convincing testi- comes the following from Attorney 

 mony: Augustine T. Smythe, which is espe- 



'Tn my opinion, the present forest cially interesting in that it gives a 



