1st Session. No. 21. ESTABLISHMENT OF FOREST RESERVATIONS. APRIL 5, 1897.-Laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Walter Mulford The VICE-PRESIDENT presented the following LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, TRANSMITTING, IN RESPONSE TO SENATE RESOLUTION OF MARCH 29, 1897, COPIES OF THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF FEBRUARY 22, 1897, AND COPIES OF PAPERS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FOREST RESERVATIONS. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: On the 29th ultimo the Senate passed the following resolution: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior is directed to send to the Senate a copy of the orders of the President of February twenty-second, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, establishing the boundary of certain forest reservations; also copies of all papers on file in relation to said reservations and the reasons for creating the same. In response thereto, I have the honor to hand you herewith copies of the orders of the President dated February 22, 1897, establishing the boundaries of certain forest reservations; also copies of all papers on file in relation to said reservations. The reasons for creating the same will be found in the document herewith transmitted entitled "Letter of the Secretary of the Interior to the President, transmitting a report by the National Forestry Commission to the National Academy of Sciences, recommending the establishment of additional forest reservations." I inclose schedule of papers on file in this Department relative to said forest reservations, copies of which are herewith transmitted. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours, The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. C. N. BLISS, Secretary. SCHEDULE. 1. Copy of letter of November 11, 1895, from editor of Century Magazine, with inclosure. 2. Copy of departmental letter of February 15, 1896, to the president of the National Academy of Sciences. 3. Copy of acknowledgment of president of National Academy of Sciences. 4. Copy of reply of president of National Academy of Sciences to departmental letter. 5. Copy of letter of March 6, 1896, from D. C. Gilman. 6. Copy of departmental letter of March 11, 1896, to the Secretary of the Treasury. 7. Copy of letter from Assistant Postmaster-General of July 7, 1896. 8. Copy of letter from C. S. Sargent, dated July 8, 1896. 9. Copy of departmental letter of July 14, 1896, to C. S. Sargent, with inclosure. 10. Copy of letter of September 9, 1896, from R. U. Johnson. 11. Copy of letter from G. B. Otis, dated September 21, 1896. 12. Copy of departmental letter of October 2, 1896, to C. S. Sargent. 13. Copy of letter from Abbott Kinney, dated October 22, 1896. 14. Copy of letter from C. S. Sargent, dated October 22, 1896. 15. Copy of letter from city clerk, Los Angeles, Cal., embodying resolution of city council. 16. Copy of letter from president National Academy of Sciences, dated October 30, 1896. 17. Copy of letter from the president of the National Academy of Sciences, dated November 10, 1896. 18. Copy of telegram from C. S. Sargent, dated December 28, 1896. 19. Copy of letter from Abbott Kinney, dated January 6, 1897, with two inclosures. 20. Copy of departmental letter of February 6, 1897, to the President. 21. Copy of letter from C. S. Sargent, dated February 23, 1897. 22. Copy of departmental letter of February 27, 1897, to the chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the United States Senate. 23. Copy of each of the proclamations or orders of the President, of February 22, 1897, establishing forest reservations. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT THE CENTURY MAGAZINE, Union Square, New York, November 11, 1895. DEAR SIR: You may perhaps have kept yourself informed as to the agitation in favor of a national forestry commission as outlined in the inclosed editorial from The Century Magazine for September, 1895, "Hope for the forests." Not only have the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce of New York passed resolutions in favor of such a commission, but similar resolutions have been passed by the American Forestry Association and the Irrigation Congress. The agitation for such a commission was about to begin when some of us heard of a short cut through the appointment by the president of the National Academy of Sciences of a commission to do exactly the same work. Of course, in order to have this done it is only necessary that you should make such a request of the Academy, and I sincerely trust that you will see your way clear to do this at an early date. The extraordinary interests involved and the helpful and progressive attitude which you yourself have exhibited on the subject of forest reform lead me to think that you will respond favorably to this suggestion. As there is very little time left before the assembling of Congress, it is desirable that what is done in the matter should be done as soon as possible. Will you kindly favor me with a line on the subject? I have reason to think that the President is very much interested in the general subject, and that any action you might take in the direction indicated would meet with his approval. I am, indeed, very respectfully, yours, Hon. HOKE SMITH, Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. R. U. JOHNSON. HOPE FOR THE FORESTS. From time to time during the last six years, both by editorial articles and by solicited contributions, we have endeavored to impress upon our readers the conviction of intelligent observers that no time should be lost in providing against the imminent and manifold perils of forest destruction in the United States, and especially on the public lands. The mind that would compass the evils brought upon other countries through indifference in this matter may see them startlingly set forth in George P. Marsh's engaging volume "Nature as Modified by Man," in which that patriotic student of science and history gave his countrymen an anxious warning against similar neglect. This was fifty years ago, and in the main our national forest policy has not yet taken shape, while the destruction of our largest crop by fire, sheep, and the hungry ax goes bravely on. This is not because the intelligence of the people is not convinced of the situation. A correct public sentiment on the subject has been rapidly forming. Bodies as widely diverse as the American Society for the Advancement of Science, the National Irrigation Association, and the New England Lumbermen's Association have officially joined in the demand for legislative action; only Congress lags behind. As usual, it is in the Capitol at Washington that ignorance and greed make their last stand, relying on the indifference or preoccupation of the lawmakers. For the rest, it is natural that honest legislators who have given no attention to the subject should hesitate to take the initiative, but that they should not be willing to give weight to the united voice of experts is most provincial and most deplorable. But a more potent voice is now about to speak. Those who will not listen to science will hardly turn a deaf ear to commerce. During the present year the advocates of a modern forest policy have received the important support of the two leading mercantile organizations of New York City. On January 3, 1895, the New York Chamber of Commerce, after special consideration of the subject, adopted unanimously the following resolutions: "Whereas a thorough inquiry into the question of the preservation of our forest lands is of paramount importance to agricultural and other interests: Therefore, be it "Resolved, That this chamber recommend the United States Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, to pass a bill which authorizes the President of the United States to appoint a commission of three experts, and make the necessary appropriation for the purpose of a thorough study of our public timber lands, so as to determine what portions ought to be preserved in the interest of the people, to prepare a plan for their management and report the same within a year of their appointment, the commission to have access to all public documents bearing on the question." On June 12, 1895, a similar meeting was held by the New York Board of Trade and Transportation, and after discussion of the larger aspects of the subject, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: "Whereas the welfare and the commercial interests of the entire country are closely related to the preservation and proper management of the public forests: "Resolved, That, as a first step to a permanent and scientific forest policy, we heartily favor the creation by Congress of a national forest commission, with the following objects: "1. To study the public timber lands, reserves, and parks on the ground. "2. To ascertain their condition and extent. "3. To ascertain their relation to the public welfare and to existing local needs of the people as regards agriculture and the supply of wood for mining, transportation, and other purposes. "4. To ascertain what portions of the public timber lands should remain as such, in view of the agricultural, mining, lumbering, and other interests of the people. "5. To prepare a plan for the general management of the public timber lands in accordance with the principles of forestry. "6. To recommend the necessary legislation; and "Resolved, That the special committee on forestry be directed to communicate with other commercial bodies and with Congress, in furtherance of concerted action on this important question, at the next session." It was understood to be the purpose of the board to devote itself to the organization of the sentiment of the country in favor of a national commission. The value of this action may be inferred from the fact that it is to the energetic leadership of the Board of Trade and Transportation that we owe the adoption of the recent amendment to the New York State constitution, virtually prohibiting for twenty years the sale or cutting of timber on the Adirondack reservation, where the reckless violation of previous statutes by a ring of lumbermen made a drastic measure indispensable. In thus taking an active part on a wider field of forest reform, it is to be hoped that the Board of Trade and Transportation will be promptly, heartily. and continuously supported by the merchants of the country, not only by similar resolutions, but by independent study of the subject and by personal appeal to Senators and Representatives before the assembling of Congress. The short session preceding a Presidential campaign, when there is a disposition to avoid political legislation, ought to be favorable to a general project of this kind, of common and vital interest to the country now and hereafter. Legislators may differ upon the details of a governmental administration of the forests, but there can hardly be an honest objection to the thorough scientific study of a subject of so vast importance. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I have the honor, as the head of the Department charged with the administration of the public domain, to request an investigation and report of your honorable body, as is provided in the act incorporating the National Academy and by article 5, section 5, of its constitution, upon the inauguration of a rational forest policy for the forested lands of the United States. Being convinced of the necessity for a radical change in the existing policy with reference to the disposal and preservation of the forest upon the public domain, I particularly desire an official expression from your body upon the following points: 1. Is it desirable and practicable to preserve from fire and to maintain permanently as forested lands those portions of the public domain now bearing wood growth for the supply of timber? 2. How far does the influence of forest upon climatic soil and water conditions make desirable a policy of forest conservation in regions where the public domain is principally situated? 3. What specific legislation should be enacted. to remedy the evils now confessedly existing? My predecessors in office for the last twenty years have vainly called attention to the inadequacy and confusion of existing laws relating to the public timber lands and consequent absence of an intelligent policy in their administration, resulting in such conditions as may, if not speedily stopped, prevent a proper development of a large portion of our country, and because the evil grows more and more as the years go by I am impelled to emphasize the importance of the question by calling upon you for the opinion and advice of that body of scientists which is officially empowered to act in such cases as this. I also beg to refer you to the proposed legislation which has been introduced into Congress for several years past at the instance of the American Forestry Association, supported by memorials of private citizens and scientific bodies, and more especially the memorials presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1873, which led to desirable legislation, and again in 1890, 1892, and 1894. As I believe that a speedy change in the existing policy is urgent, I request that you will give an early consideration to this matter and favor me with such statements and recommendations as may be laid before Congress for action during this session. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Prof. WOLCOTT GIBBS, HOKE SMITH, Secretary. President National Academy of Sciences, Newport, R. I. THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, Washington. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of February 15, 1896, requesting from the National Academy of |