CHAPTER V 



THE FOREST RESERVES SINCE 1897 (continued): ANTI- 

 CONSERVATION ACTIVITY 



ANTI-CONSERVATION ACTIVITY 



It was during the latter part of the decade 1897-1907 that a definite 

 anti-conservation party grew up. With the development of a compre- 

 hensive forest policy and with the extension of the idea of conserva- 

 tion to other resources than timber, certain interests felt that they 

 were threatened, and united in opposition. Of course there could be 

 no definite party opposed to conservation until "conservation" was 

 given a definite meaning,* and Pinchot and Roosevelt were the ones 

 who gave it a definite meaning — who inaugurated what has been 

 termed the "conservation movement." 



In order to get a well-balanced conception of the progress made 

 since 1897, it will be necessary to consider in detail the activity of the 

 anti-conservation forces. It has been seen that the appropriation bills 

 did not bring the conservation issue squarely before Congress. The 

 western men generally showed no particular opposition to increased 

 appropriations ; but the attitude of some of them toward conservation 

 was not radically changed, as will now be shown. 



FACTORS TENDING TO AROUSE WESTERN HOSTILITY: 

 AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN THE FOREST RESERVES 



One of the reasons most often given for western discontent during 

 this period was the inclusion of agricultural lands in the forest re- 

 serves. The act of 1897 had forbidden the inclusion of such lands, but 

 some had previously been included, and even in later proclamations 

 it was not always possible to avoid the inclusion of some agricultural 

 land. Such land could be eliminated only by proclamation of the 

 President, or by special act of Congress. Settlers within the forest 

 reserves were allowed to hold their lands through permits issued by the 



