10 FOREST RESERVES IN IDAHO. 



than would seem to be justified, but the question is a large one and it 

 is impossible to present all of the features necessary to be considered 

 ^A^ithin the scope of a proper response to your suggestion. 



It Avill be very gratifying to me if, at a convenient time to yourself, 

 the matter can 'be taken up personally and by the process of direct 

 suggestion and . interchange of ideas we can readily dispose of the 

 more important questions arising out of the controversy. I desire 

 to be understood as not being an enemy to forest reserves, but, on the 

 contrary, as being favorable to their creation for proper purposes, but 

 at all times keeping open to unembarrassed settlement for home- 

 making purposes, entry for mining and kindred uses, those lands 

 adapted to such purposes. The State of Idaho is very much inter- 

 ested in this question. It has certain rights to select lands under the 

 admission act, and its right in this regard is diminished to the extent 

 of forest reserves and withdrawals, and it should be entitled to a 

 liearing when such withdrawals are proposed. I hope the law may 

 be so amended as to give bona fide settlers the free right to select any 

 part of the public lands as homes, freed from unusual restrictions 

 incident to forest reserves. 



Respect full V submitted. 



AV. 15. Heyiu Rx. 



The President to Senator Heybnrn. 



AVashixgton, March 2, lOOJf. 

 My Dear Senator Heybi rn : I have referred your letter for full 

 report to the Secretary of the Interior. Let me. however, correct one 

 misapprehension. I have directed that no forest reserves be made 

 without consultation with you, but I did not direct that there should 

 be no Avithdrawals of land preliminary to an examination of the 

 subject. It would be impossible to notify anyone in advance about 

 these withdrawals, as I am informed, unless at the risk of advantage 

 being taken thereof for improper reasons; and so, as I understand it, 

 no one outside of the Office is ever consulted. I shall, however, take it 

 up with the jDroper authorities to find out the reasons. 

 Sincerely, yours, 



Theodore Roosevelt. 

 Hon. W. B. Heyburn, 



United States Senate. 



Mr. Loeb to Secretary Hitchcock. 



Washington, March 2^ 1904- 

 My Dear ^Ir. Secretary: By direction of the President I beg to 

 send you the inclosed letter from Senator Heyburn, with accompany- 

 ing maps, in reference to forest reserves, and to say that the Presi- 

 dent would like a full report on it from Commissioner Richards and 

 Mr. Gilford Pinchot. 



Very truly, yours, W:vr. Loeb, Jr. 



Secretary to the President. 

 Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, 



Secretary of the Interior. 



