Care oughten be taken not
to cut on the north an' west edges of the forests, as the old guard pines
will break the wind."
"How will you treat miners and prospectors?"
"They must be as free to take up claims as if there wasn't no National
Forest."
"How about the settler, the man seeking a home out West?" I went on.
"We'll encourage him. The more men there are, the better the forester can
fight fire. But those home-seekers must want a home, an' not be squattin'
for a little, jest to sell out to lumber sharks."
"What's to become of timber and wood?"
"Wal, it's there to be used, an' must be used. We'll give it free to the
settler an' prospector. We'll sell it cheap to the lumbermen--big an'
little. We'll consider the wants of the local men first."
"Now about the range. Will you keep out the stockmen?"
"Nary. Grazin' for sheep, cattle, an' hosses will go on jest the same. But
we must look out for overgrazin'. For instance, too many cattle will stamp
down young growth, an' too many sheep leave no grazin' for other stock. The
bead forester must know his business, an' not let his range be overstocked.
The small local herders an' sheepmen must be considered first, the big
stockmen second. Both must be charged a small fee per head for grazin'."
"How will you fight fire?"
"Wal, thet's the hard nut to crack.
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