THE FOREST RESERVES 127 



The McRae bill at this stage was one which latter-day conserva- 

 tionists would generally have approved, and certainly it was such a 

 measure as would have improved the situation of the forest reserves, 

 yet much of the opposition came from conservation quarters. Doubt- 

 less this is to be partly explained by distrust of the amendment per- 

 mitting mining in the forest reserves. As has been pointed out pre- 

 viously, many conservationists had an idea that the forest reserves 

 must be shut up and guarded against every intrusion, that anyone 

 permitted to go upon the reserves would be certain to do injury. 

 Ixperience with western timber trespassers lent considerable support 

 this belief, but it was, of course, impossible that the reserves could 

 irer be maintained on any such basis of non-use, because it aroused 

 itirely too much western hostility. The miners felt that they had a 

 pght to go upon the land wherever minerals were to be found, felt that 

 leir operations were not inconsistent with the purposes for which the 

 jserves were set aside. Some of the conservationists did not under- 

 hand western conditions and could not fully appreciate the western 

 point of view. 



It might seem that the McRae bill as it finally passed the House, 

 conceded about as much to the West as should have been expected, 

 but when it was referred in the Senate, Teller of Colorado, of the 

 Committee on Public Lands, immediately brought up a substitute bill, 

 which differed widely from the House bill.^^ The Senate bill repre- 

 sented fairly well what the western men considered right and proper in 

 dealing with the forest reserves, and for that reason it is interesting 

 to note some of its provisions. In the first place, it imposed a limita- 

 tion on the purposes for which forest reserves might be created. They 

 might be created to secure favorable conditions of water flow, or to 

 secure a continuous supply of timber for the people in the state or 

 territory where the reserves were located. Thus, the creation of re- 

 serves to secure a continuous supply of timber for the public generally 

 was not permissible under Teller's bill. In the second place, the inclu- 

 sion of agricultural or mineral lands was forbidden, and any land 

 known to be mineral must be restored to entry. The reserves were 

 opened to mining and prospecting. Free timber was provided for set- 

 tlers, miners, residents, and prospectors, and also for the construc- 

 18 Cong. Bee, Feb. 26, 1895, 2779, 2780. 



