NATIONAL FORESTS AND PUBLIC 



OPINION* 



BY 



Lydia Adams- Williams, of Washington, D. C. 



THE policy of President Roosevelt June 30, 1908, over $3,000,000. 



is to give to all questions, national Feeling that a further expression of 



and international, the fullest measure public opinion would be helpful to the 



of publicity. far-reaching and incalculably valu- 



Any project, public or private, able forest policy of the Government 



which will not bear discussion is not and the proposed Appalachian and 



worthy of the earnest consideration of White Mountain National Forests, 



the thoughtful and conservative. and that it would further tend to edu- 



During the last, the 59th, term of cate on these important subjects, the 



our National Congress, the search- writer endeavored, by letter, to get an 



light of thorough investigation and of expression of opinion from people of 



public opinion was turned upon all prominence whose ideas mold public 



the branches and operations of the Na- sentiment. 



tional Forest policy of the Govern- I regret to say that there was not 



ment, as exemplified in the Forest time to reach many whose opinions 



Service. would have been most valuable ; also 



What was the result? Was this that many to whom I wrote were 



policy of the Government injured, away ; and that replies from many oth- 



impaired, or crippled in any way by ers could not reach me in time for in- 



the fierce attack and by the publicity corporation in this paper, 



given all its motives and workings? Still I was able to get opinions from 



On the contrary, the Government several, and will submit them here, 

 forest policy rose triumphant and un- 

 scathed from the fierce onslaught The att itude of President Roose- 

 made upon it. ve j t on t h e broad questions of fores- 

 The conte: raised unexpected try and irrigation is well known, as 

 friends Jnlooked-for and powerful he has proclaimed his views again and 

 influences developed from unthought- again in messages and addresses. He 

 of sources; old and valued adherents recently said: 

 and advocates redoubled their zeal in If ever the time should come when 



the Western forests are destroyed, 



So far from injuring the National there will disappear with them the 



Forest policy, the debate and the pub- prosperity of the stockman, the miner, 



hcity resulted in educating the reading the lumberman, and the railroads, 



public to the wisdom, value and ne- and> most important of all, the small 



ity of the present policy, and its ranchm an, who cultivates his own 



beneficent workings. land " 



As the logical result, $500,000 was 

 granted the Service for permanent im- 

 provements ; $1,900,000 for adminis- Vice-President Fairbanks has re- 

 trative expenditures; and the balance peatedly affirmed his life-long belief 

 of the special fund, $600,000, was left in the feasibility of the irrigation and 

 at the disposal of the Service ; thus forest policies as now carried on by 

 making the available resources of the the Government, and he recently said : 

 Forest Service for the year ending "The rapid increase of population 



*Address before the Fifteenth National Irrigation Congress, at Sacramento, 

 California. 



