10 FOEEST EESEEVES IX IDAHO. 



than would seem to be jiistiiied. but the question is a hirge one and it 

 is impossible to present all of the features necessary to be considered 

 within the scope of a proper resj^onse to your suggestion. 



It will be very gratifying to me if, at a convenient time to yourself, 

 the matter can be taken up personally and by the process of direct 

 suggestion and interchange of ideas we can readily dispose of the 

 more important questions arising out of the controversy. I desire 

 to be tmderstood as not being an enemy to forest reserves, but. on the 

 contrary, as being favorable to their creation for proper purposes, but 

 at all times keeping open to imembarrassed settlement for home- 

 making purposes, entry for mining and kmdred uses, those lands 

 adapted to such purpo^er-. The State of Idaho is very much inter- 

 ested in this question. It has certain rights to select lands imder the 

 admission act. and its right in this regard is diminished to the extent 

 of forest reserve- and withdrawals, and it should be entitled to a 

 hearing when such withdrawals are proposed. I hope the law may 

 be so amended as to give bona fide settlers the free right to select any 

 part of the public lands as homes, freed from unusual restrictions 

 incident to forest reserves. 



Kespectftillv stibmitted. 



Vr. B. Heybuex. 



The President to Senator Heyburn. 



Washixgtox. Jlarch -2, 1904. 

 ^Iy Dear Sexator Heyburx : I have referred yotir letter for full 

 report to the Secretary of the Interior. Let me. however, correct one 

 misapprehension. I liave directed that no forest reserves be made 

 without consultation with yoti. but I did not direct that there should 

 be no withdrawals of land preliminary to an examination of the 

 stibject. It would be impossible to notify anyone in advance about 

 these withcb-awals. as I am informed, tmless at the risk of advantage 

 being taken thereof for improper reasons: and so. as I imderstand it. 

 no one otitside of the Office is ever consulted. I shall, however, take it 

 up with the j^roper authorities to find out the reasons. 

 Sincerely, yours. 



Theodore Roosevelt. 

 Hon. AY. B. Heybirx. 



United States Senate. 



Mr. Loeb to Secretary Hitchcock. 



Washixgtox. :\[arrh 2. lOOJf. 

 IMy Dear Mr. Secretary : By direction of the President I beg to 

 send you the inclosed letter from vSenator Heyburn. with accompany- 

 ing maps, in reference to forest reserves, and to say that the Presi- 

 dent would like a full report on it from Commissioner Eichards and 

 Mr. Gifford Pinchot. 



Very truly, yours. AVm. Loeb. Jr. 



Secretary to the President. 

 Hon. E. A. Hitchcock. 



Secretary of the Interior. 



