[17] 



has once obtained real headway, until it encounters a natural barrier, is ex- 

 tinguished by rain, or expires for lack of material." The opening of this 

 gap is suggested as means of creating an artificial break in the consumable 

 material, and an interested resident population of guards, which can be 

 made subjects of legal call for aid as one condition of conveyance of forest 

 lands from, the nation or the state. 



Another reason for the foregoing suggestion is the value of the water 

 power now running unused. For fifty-one miles the North Santiam river, 

 running down this valley, has an average and very uniform fall of fifty- 

 one and one-half feet per mile. It is questionable whether there is another 

 stream in the state which could be so often and so cheaply used in the pro- 

 duction of force. The very refuse of its forest wealth could be ground into 

 paper pulp by water-driven machinery. The writer is no machinist, and 

 knows little of what can now be done with electric force, but sincerely be- 

 lieves that in this valley there are great opportunities for its cheap manu- 

 facture and a convenient field for its use in harvesting the timber growth 

 which ought to be here saved from further waste, and as a guard against 

 possible destructive forest fires. There is also, near the head of this valley, 

 a very inviting field for fruit growing, dairy farming and apiaries. Twenty 

 years ago it was estimated there was room for the settlement of 2,000 fami- 

 lies on open or partially open lands, upon which seedling timber has since 

 much encroached. 



In view of this great waste going on in the forests of Oregon generally; 

 in view of the situations described as to forest and arid lands near the cen- 

 ter of the State, is there any reason for the people of other states to interfere 

 with the people of Oregon harvesting their timber wealth in their own way, 

 under such circumstances? Ah ! but these Eastern friends say : " We look 

 to the future and the oneness of our country.'' The Western citizens will 

 say: "Yes, but the oneness will be best maintained by each expending his 

 public spirit where he knows the conditions." Let the citizens of New 

 York continue to enlarge the state's holdings on the Adirondacks. Let 

 those in Massachusetts use the abandoned farms in that state for public tim- 

 ber lots. Let those of New Hampshire follow the example of Mr. Austin 

 Corbin, who has shown to the world a field of interesting study by collect- 

 ing 1,000 elk, 150 moose, 1,200 deer, and 85 buffalo, and an indefinite num- 

 ber of wild swine, all in a forest park of 26,000 acres, to form which he 

 canceled 375 titles, by purchase at from $1 to $25 per acre, from people who, 

 we may suppose, find life more pleasant in manufactures or trade of town 

 or city, or in the pulse-stirring home-building of the West, to which they 

 are always welcome. In every state there are openings for the public 

 spirited idealist, or if he does not wish to share his plans with others, there 

 is the fine example of the founder of Biltmore — an investment in 100,000 

 acres of southern pine forests, to be managed for its forestry products. There 

 are openings for others in like enterprises in the New England states. 



