60 rOEZST EESEEVES IX IDAHO. 



capacity of the range, which i- realized too hite to prevent permanent 

 nijiirv. Upon forest reserves the aim is to allow all the grazing. 

 c-ither of >heep or cattle, which will not decrease the next year's sitp- 

 ply. and to allot it on an equitable basis. The settler is protected 

 tir-t of all. and others considered according to their rights or prior- 

 ity and location. 



These, then, are the present objects of fore-t reserves. TTliat valid 

 objection can be tirgecl against them ^ AVhether it is sticcessftil 

 depends iij^on the administration of the reserves and upon the coop- 

 eration of the citizens of Idaho. On February 1, 1905. the adminis- 

 tration wa- transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and the 

 Fore-t Service of that Department has nearly completed a re^dsion of 

 the regulations upon an entirely new policy. Control from AVashing- 

 ton will be reduced and mttch more authority given to the local offi- 

 cers. Being on the gTOiuid and familiar with local conditions,_ they 

 will be able to do business j)romptly. without delay of correspondence 

 and red tape. The. present policy is based upon the use of the 

 reserves by the people, with only sttch restrictions as are necessary to 

 insure the fullest use. 



The recrulations provide for fi^e tise by settlers and prospectors of 

 all the material they need. Large consmners can j^ttrchase as fi'eely 

 and as cheaply a- from private speculators, although they must not 

 destroy the growth which will provide a second crop. The mining 

 laws ap>i)ly exactly as they do on outside reserves. Private enterprises, 

 like reservoirs, ditches, telephoiie line-, stores, and simimer resorts, are 

 allowed upon application. Graziiig i- regulated only so far as neces- 

 sarv to prevent destruction of the range or unfair competition. Bet- 

 ter pav will be given fore-t officers and better men sectu^ed for the 

 service. 



Forest re-erve> not only do not hinder development, l^ut they actu- 

 allv assist it in many ways. For example, otitside of them there is 

 usiialh- no legitimate way to ^ i I'.iib-i' >/x.-ept by btiying the land. 

 which can not be done imles- : > - i y^-i. Ctitting on tmsurveyed 

 land is tistially trespass. puni-iiaMir mv riiie or imj^risoimient. -On a 

 re-erve timl^er may be oluained anywhere for any purpose. To 

 secure any legal right of way on the pulilic domain requires compli- 

 ance with cumbersome laws calling for expensive jDlats and surveys 

 and necessitating long delays. The new regulations for forest 

 reserves allow permit- for all -mall pr^iiect-. with no red tape or wait- 

 ing. On the piiVilic dnniain no orie ean legally operate a store, hotel. 

 or anv other e-tal>li^hment unle.-.- he can e:-tabli>li a claim to the land. 

 If it i- not aoricultural land, or if he has used his homestead right, he 

 u>nallv ha> no way except to locate a mineral claim, regardless of 

 whether he can hold it as -uch legally. He is always at the mercy 

 of the clann jum]^er. On a reserve he has only to secure a jDermit to 

 occupy the land for the de-ired purpo-e and the Government protects 

 him. 



A verv important aid to the public which i- to be provided under 

 the present management will he the active building and opening of 

 roads and trails. "The lack of trails and bridges is a great inconven- 

 ience throughout nearly all mountain regions in Idaho, and the forest 

 service expects to devote much time and money to this purpose. 



These conditions should remove most of the objection- which have 

 been made against either existing or proposed reserves in Idaho. Xo 



