will mean so much to our economy, we are most anxious that every consideration be given to any changes that might be made: Now, therefore, be it · Resolved, That the Omak Chamber of Commerce ask the Congress of the United States to defer the passing of any legislation affecting the multiple use of the wild lands; and further be it Resolved, That no change in administration of the uses of these lands now set aside as wilderness areas be made until the National Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission appointed by President Eisenhower has made its full report and has had reasonable time for study thereof. We further ask the privilege of submitting a written brief in more detail for your consideration within the next 30 days. Respectfully submitted. OMAK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. LETTER OF ROBERT BUNN, SEATTLE, WASH. SEATTLE, WASH., March 30, 1959. GENTLEMEN: My name is Robert Bunn. Have lived here most of my life; have lumbering investments. There is undue concern over narrowing the tax base. Once land is cut there is little cash flow at tree farm rates 'til next harvest. Granted there is no direct dollar benefit from wilderness, per se. I foresee increased use offsetting this, eventually generating more dollars in fringe areas than commercial development. Let us pass this bill. holiday-minded groups. You can rely on business and labor keeping rein on ROBERT BUNN. STATEMENT OF THE OKANOGAN (WASH.) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Hon. JAMES MURRAY, OKANOGAN, WASH., March 28, 1959. Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR SENATOR MURRAY: Whereas our city of Okanogan and the entire Okanogan Valley is so dependent upon forest and wild lands and the products therefrom we are extremely interested in what changes in use that might be made of these lands and products; and Whereas the wilderness preservation bill (S. 1123) or any other wilderness bill that will affect the wild land use and restrict the multiple use thereof will mean so much to our economy, we are most anxious that every consideration be given to any changes that might be made: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce ask the Congress of the United States to defer the passing of any legislation affecting the multiple use of the wild lands; and further be it Resolved, That no change in administration of the uses of these lands now set aside as wilderness areas be made until the National Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission appointed by President Eisenhower have made their full report and have had reasonable time for study thereof. We further ask the privilege of submitting a written brief in more detail for your consideration within the next 30 days. Respectfully submitted. OKANOGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. STATEMENT OF THE PATEROS (WASH.) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEAR SIR: The Pateros Chamber of Commerce wishes to submit the following resolution in regard to the wilderness preservation bill : Whereas passage of such a bill would remove a large portion of our recreational area and forest lands from the control of the Forest Service who we feel are doing an excellent job of management; and Whereas such a bill would necessitate the establishment of an unnecessary "council" which would be a pressure and propaganda group promoting new wilderness areas and special privileges; and Whereas any future changes which might be deemed desirable would be almost prohibitive under this act, and might well affect the economy and future welfare of our State; and Whereas we are opposed to any act which will prohibit the multiple use of all our natural resources; and Whereas we feel this type of legislation is class legislation and not in the interest of the general public: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Pateros Chamber of Commerce go on record as being opposed to the passage of the wilderness preservation bill and a copy of this resolution be sent to our congressional representatives. WAYNE MAITLAND, President. STATEMENT OF THE OREGON CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION, ED COLES, SECRETARY SEATTLE, WASH., March 31, 1959. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: The Oregon Cattlemen's Association presented testimony in November 1958 in Bend, Oreg., in opposition to the proposed national wilderness preservation system, S. 4028. In view of the many witnesses appearing at the Seattle hearing and in order to conserve time of the hearing committee, the Oregon Cattlemen's Association wishes to be on record as reaffirming our testimony as presented in Bend, Oreg., . and urge that Congress take no action on S. 1123 until such time that they can.. review findings of the so-called Rockefeller committee. Sincerely, OREGON CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION, STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 38, DISTRICT 23 SHELTON, WASH., March 27, 1959. Re Hearing on wilderness bill, S. 1123. GENTLEMEN: Since bill S. 1123, if enacted, could cause hardship to the working people in timber dependent communities under existing policies of multiple use and sustained yield, this local union expresses its opposition to this proposed legislation. The wilderness legislation as proposed in S. 1123 could restrict areas of Federal lands to a single use while the intent should always be toward multiple-purpose management in order to serve the needs of all the people. It is our opinion that this is unnecessary legislation, which, in setting up a wilderness council, could lead to conflicting direction involving other Federal agencies now entrusted with handling Federal lands, such as the Forest Service, which is amply qualified in evaluating potentials of forest lands and designating these lands as to their proper place within the framework of the concept of multiple use. Very truly yours, EARL E. JAGNOW, Secretary. ! STATEMENT OF THE TACOMA (WASH.) SPORTS MEN'S CLUB AUXILIARY Re wilderness hearing. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, Federal Courthouse, Seattle, Wash. TACOMA, WASH., March 28, 1959. SIR: The Tacoma Sportsmen's Club Auxiliary Executive Board are in favor of supporting the wilderness bill, S. 1123. We request that our letter of support be made a part of the hearing record. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE TACOMA LETTER OF DR. RICHARD L. MORRILL, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WASH., March 30, 1959. Hon. JAMES E. MURRAY, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR SIR: This letter is in reference to the wilderness bill now under consideration by your committee, and specifically in reference to the North Cascades area. If possible, may it be inserted in the record of the hearing today in Seattle, which I could not attend? I am an instructor in geography, with special training in the field of resource utilization and allocation, including forest and recreational resources. I am also acquainted with the North Cascades region, as a result of numerous trips throughout the area. The problem is whether an area should be set aside for protective and recreational use or be utilized for minerals and lumber in the usual way. A perusal of maps of the timber resources of Washington, and statistics of the volume of stands indicates a large proportion of timber actually lies in private land, and outside national forests. If an area were withdrawn, such as that in the proposal for a national park, the amount of timber lost to commercial use would be very small. With present sustained yield methods, the additional acreage is not needed to maintain a large and strong forest industry in this State. With respect to the worthiness of this particular area for protection, I can testify that it is not only worthy, but must be protected. I have vacationed in every western national park in the United States and Canada, and can state with assurance that the area is spectacular and magnificent and unique-from heavily forested valleys to true alpine landscapes. It is, essentially, the last such area, which now even has the possibility of being protected. The Forest Service proposal which excludes the forested valleys, makes a mockery of conservation, and leaves a disjointed and fractured area. It would be as if Glacier Park were limited to the tops of peaks. In view of the inability of the Forest Service to adequately protect such an area, I would strongly suggest that the National Park Service be involved in negotiations regarding the area, toward the possibility of establishing such a park in the area. This would be the only way to permit access roads to the area while safeguarding its resources. As a geographer I am well aware of the need for efficient utilization of resources, but I am also cognizant of the entire national inventory of forest resources on the one hand and recreation resources on the other. It is the latter resource, which is in serious short supply. Scenic areas cannot be created, as forests now can. Hence it is urgent that the area be set aside as soon as possible in some suitable way. Yours sincerely, DR. RICHARD L. MORRILL, LETTER OF STELLA PEARL RUNGE, SEATTLE, WASH. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, Wilderness Hearing, Federal Courthouse, Seattle, Wash.: SEATTLE, WASH., March 30, 1959. I came to the courthouse this morning, March 30, and heard the testimony given up until noon. I did not have written testimony to hand in, so now I am writing one, representing nearly 100 women. One club is the Rainier Beach Women's Club, the other is the Hillside Garden Club, both of Seattle. We heartily endorse the wilderness bill, S. 1123. Also we hope the commercial interests have our generation and the generations to come in mind before they use up all our natural resources. STELLA PEARL RUNGE, President of Rainier Beach Women's Club, Member of Hillside Garden Club. LETTER OF HARRY DOST, JR., SEATTLE, WASH. SEATTLE, WASH., March 30, 1959. Senator JAMES E. MURRAY, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. DEAR SENATOR MURRAY: Please include my comments in the record of the March 30, 1959, hearing at Seattle on wilderness bill, S. 1123, as follows: 1. Commercial logging, selective or otherwise, greatly reduces the recreational value of forested areas because (a) Wildlife is driven away to more remote regions. (b) Scenic beauty is destroyed. (c) Entry into regions where logging is conducted is often forbidden during the summertime because of the fire hazard. 2. We must determine if it is better to serve the short-range interests of the logging industry or to retain those few remaining noncommercialized recreational areas and thus serve the long-range recreational interests of the entire Nation. Along this line, I wish to add that our society is providing continually increased leisure for the individual and we must therefore not judge the recreational needs of the Nation entirely by today's standards. 3. Those same areas which are under question, also are part of the remaining national watershed. We as a country are becoming increasingly aware of an impending national water shortage. I believe that the recreational interests of the individual are generally compatible with the use of these areas for water sources and that neither of these interests are compatible with logging. Yours very truly, LETTER OF MARY E. THALER, SPOKANE, WASH. HARRY DOST, Jr. SPOKANE, WASH., March 31, 1959. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: Although the hearings on the wilderness bill are at this moment in session in Seattle, I hope this expression of support for it can be included with the others you have received. The forests and mountains, in their altogether satisfying richness, are within easy reach of people like ourselves who rely on our car to take us into the wilderness. Last summer, for instance, my husband and I spent a 2-week vacation traveling entirely within the State of Washington. For the moderate cost of $170, for car and all other expenses, we camped out in Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic Park, Mount Baker National Forest, Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, and on the east side of the Cascades in Okanogan National Forest. With our sleeping bags, camp stove, and tent, we had a most relaxing and interesting trip. We stayed in motels twice, and the rest of the time admired the trees and the birds and the mountains surrounding us; also the ocean. In fact, perhaps we should submit this as a testimonial for the chamber of commerce to use in advertising Washington State as a place for unsurpassed recreation. Surely it would be a mistake to give up what is irreplaceable of nature's bounties. This family votes for the wilderness bill. MARY E. THALER. LETTER OF GRACE E. HOWARD, SEATTLE, WASH. Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, SEATTLE, WASH., March 30, 1959. Federal Court House, Seattle, Wash. MY DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: I attended the public hearing on the wilderness bill Monday, March 30, in the Federal Court House, Seattle. Please put my name on record in favor of the wilderness bill, S. 1123. Thank you. Sincerely yours, GRACE E. HOWARD.. LETTER OF EFFIE LOUISE CHAPMAN, DES MOINES, WASH. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, Wilderness Hearing, Federal Court House, Seattle. DES MOINES, WASH., March 22, 1959. DEAR SIR: Having had the joy of exploring in many of the wilderness areas in this State, I urge most heartily that future generations be given the same opportunity through the passage of wilderness bill, S. 1123. Very truly yours, EFFIE LOUISE CHAPMAN. LETTER OF BEVERLY J. AND BERNHART H. WITTE, SEATTLE, WASH. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: We are writing in regard to the wilderness bill which must be put into existence. Since we cannot be present at the wilderness bill hearing March 30 in the Federal Court House in Seattle, we are submitting this letter to be made part of the record for this very necessary bill. We feel that our existing national parks, wild and wilderness recreation areas of our national forests need to be protected now and for the future. Sincerely, BEVERLY J. WITTE LETTER OF S. D. BROOKS, SEATTLE, WASH. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON. SEATTLE, WASH., March 22, 1959. DEAR SIR: Nothing is closer to my heart than the heritage of our vanishing wilderness. Certainly there is no excuse to permit the few remaining acres of wilderness in our country to fall into the hands of a few selfish interests which demand to exploit not 90 percent or even 95 percent but all of the remaining natural forests. Please, sir, do everything you can to help the wilderness bill S. 1123. Unfortunately those who would like most to appear at the hearing are working folks like myself who must be at their jobs on Monday, so kindly make this note a part of the hearing record. |