Early in 1896 the Arizona papers carried some press reports to the effect that the President had designated certain areas in the west as Forest Reserves, some of them located in the timbered areas of northern Arizona. The news created but languid interest among Arizonians. Washington was several thousand miles to the east, many of them had scrapped for the mountains with the Apaches, and all were filled with the old pioneer spirit of discovery and ownership. We were in possession. Why worry?