FOREST RESERVES IN IDAHO. 77 



reserve are of chief value for agricultural purposes, such lands, b}^ 

 elimination or otherwise, vill be turned over to the home builder. 



We are agreed on the question that public lands of an agricultural 

 nature should be jealously guarded and freely offered for the perma- 

 nent use of the real settler and home builder, and that every 

 encouragement should be offered to bring about a substantial devel- 

 opment in this direction. Further than this, and apparently in 

 opposition to your own views, I am convinced that the public forest 

 lands should be just as carefully guarded as the public agricultural 

 lands, and that their resources should be protected and wisely used 

 for the l)est good of all the people in the long run. The contrar}^ 

 policy, which you seem to advocate, is, in my judgment, a policy of 

 destruction of the State's future assets in the temporary interest of a 

 few favored parties. 



The other clippings you send relate to party matters, and strive to 

 make it aj^pear that the forest-reserve question in Idaho is a matter 

 of political importance. Now, Avhen I can properly pay heed to 

 political interests, I will do so ; but I will not for one moment consent 

 to sacrifice the interests of the people as a whole to the real or 

 fancied interests of any individual or of any political faction. The 

 Government policy in the establishment of national forest reserves 

 has been in effect for some time ; its good results are already evident ; 

 it is a policy emphatically in the interest of the people as a whole, 

 and especially the people of the West; I believe they cordially 

 approve it, and I do not intend to abandon it. 

 Yer}^ truly, yours, 



Theodore Roosevelt. 



Hon. W. B. Heyburn, 



United States Senate. 



Senator Heyburn to the President. 



United States Senate, 

 Committee on Manufactures, 

 ' Wallace., Idaho., J^ine 2If, 1905. 

 Dear Mr. President : I have your letter of June 13, and, replying 

 tliereto, I am convinced that we are trying to accomplish the same 

 purpose in securing to the people of Idaho their greatest benefit 

 from the natural resources of the State. We only differ in our con- 

 clusions as to the method to be adopted. Congress has delegated to 

 you its constitutional power over the public lands, and within that 

 power your judgment is governing. I have only approached you in 

 regard to the forest-reserve question from the standpoint of a citizen 

 of Idaho who has always taken an active part in the settlement of 

 all questions affecting the present and future of its people. In my 

 representations heretofore made in regard to the creation of forest 

 reserves I have spoken only facts and have been sincere in my state- 

 ments and conclusions. I have no reason to change in reg-ard to 

 either. I have learned to be patient in controversy and considerate 

 of opposition. In further consideration of the question I shall act 



