FOREST RESERVES IN IDAHO. \) 



the creation of these forest reserves is completed the railroad will 

 doubtless stop where it is. It can not afford to build through a coun- 

 try that is included within forest-reserve restrictions. The future of 

 Idaho depends npon the number of people who make their homes 

 within it, and this is regulated by the amount of available, unembar- 

 rassed territory subject to appropriation as homes under the land 

 laws of the United States. 



I submit herewith a copy of the contract which settlers are required 

 to sign who Avould go within the forest reserve for the purpose of 

 settling or transacting business. It will appear, in view of the fact 

 that man}' of the important towns of Idaho are already included 

 within forest reserves, that such restrictions will ultimately result 

 in driving all settlement and business beyond the reservation lines. 

 The American citizen will not consent to take, at the will of any 

 man, the right which the law gives to others and should give to him. 

 These restrictions are harmful. 



On the occasion of our recent conference regarding this matter you 

 asked me directly as to whom I complained of and what officers 

 my criticism is directed to. I was not sufficiently advised at that 

 time as to who was responsible for the several steps in the creation of 

 forest reserves to answer specifically. I am now advised that the 

 Avithdrawals for forest reserves are first suggested by the Chief of 

 Forestr}' in the Agricultural Department ; that his recommendations 

 are acted upon by the Secretary of the Interior acting through the 

 Commissioner of tlie (Tcneral Land Office. Upon making inquiry in 

 regard to this matter I had been referred from one of these Depart- 

 ments to the other, and was at the time of my conference with you not 

 so fully advised in regard thereto as I am now. 



Idaho can not grow under the restrictions that are placed upoh it. 

 I am not opposed to creating forest reserves for j^roper purposes, 

 but I insist that they should be created upon the ground and not 

 upon the maps; that is, from information obtained on the ground, 

 and not by drawing lines upon the map. I also submit that they 

 should be created only after full and thorough consultation with 

 those representing the State. 



I would call your attention to the fact that some of the with- 

 drawals that have not yet been acted upon have stood for periods of 

 two or three 3'ears. These withdrawals are just as effective in pre- 

 venting settlement as though the reservations were created. 



I have had the area of the forest reserves actually created, the 

 withdrawals actually made, and the proposed or suggested with- 

 drawals computed : 



Acres. 



The existing reserves under Executive orders aggregate 4,842,240 



The existing withdrawals aggregate about 5,156,240 



The suggested withdrawals now under consideration aggregate 



. about 3,225,600 



Maldng a grand total of about 1.3,224,080 



I attach hereto a copy of the rules heretofore referred to and also a 

 casual map of one of the mining camps within the Bitter Root Forest 

 Reserve. There are many other mining camps on this and other 

 forest reserves in Idaho. 



I realize, Mr. President, that I have already been more elaborate 



