Litchfield enquirer., 1852-12-09
NuMBER IL.

NOMbeh A.
The destruction Of our forests beyond
the reasonable wants oil the present gen.
Grafton. is an injury done to all succeed
ing generations. All the evils That the
present aye begins to feel or TO fear, will
90 on increasing with the advance OF
time, and with the increase OF population.
Posterity then must suffer the conse-
uuences of our waste. Is there no
wrong, no injustice. in this ? What NOR
al right has any one to go on destroying
what future generations will need, mere
" to inci ease possessions that are alrea-
dy greater than he can enjoy? Does he
wish to enrich his children? Then IL:
him NOT waste what will be worth more
to them than gold and silver. Timber
ed lands in many places are now more
valuable than those under cultivation,
aid will soon be so 10 all parts Of the
country.
But it is said that " farmers and land
owners generally. save timber enough
for the use Of the farm" This may be
true so long as e" things continue rs they
are" But suppose, what will doubtless
be true, that our population shall in =
crease, so that there shall be two. three.
or four families where there is now but
one the large fatms. which now have
=" timber sufficient for their own use, .
viii, BIZ divided. and the quantity of tim
Der which is now sufficient for one tami-
lily, will be- found Insufficient for several.
s.. The clearing Of lands beyond a GER
tain extent, must have the effect of les
soning the ability Of country to sup
port dense population. Such is the
effect upon manv countries OF the East,
whlch have suffered in fertility and pro
auettveness by the destruction of the
fo.ests. Palestine is noted example,
This country, which once supported a
p"merous and dense population. is now
almost a desert. Dlvested Of its tina,
ber. lis springs aud streams are mostly
dried. its soil parched. and barren in
many parts. and its only beauty is seen
H. the winter. or rainy season. Very lnlle
wood Is used in the country; few eau
afford to use it and the little that is
used is bought and sold by weight
This is bat y picture Of What our cnun
try will be, it our present blind. destruc
.ivs policy ia regard to tirpbex shaft be
continued. Fhe activity and energy o.
our people are such AS To- render it ne
cessaty 10 preserve % large proportio
of tirnbered bands. What would an
swer for the old world will not do for w.
Never was there a time when more tim.
ber was repaired Il" economical pnrpo
ses. than tns p esent--never was tbere
pc. 'pln chat rtqult ed more. than The
Ame' lean people and may say, never
was ihese Il tine when nlo,c WAS wasted
thao by the American people.
But" says oRe. ." There will b.
enough for me- while | live, and wha,
need care for oihcrs let them lock
out fH themselves THIS answer doe
not answer ii serious reply. II i, tie alb
senee 1T benevulence, the very essence
of the loves, aeAnest seifishness.
Says anolher, a. The Lord will pro
vide" Answer. He has already mad.
provision sufficient EH all and il becomes
Us to tax, care ot IL; otherwise {" the
miquitles Of the fathers will be visited
upon the children" Besides, He does
not work by miracles. Ii we destroy
what lie has provided, either we. or oui
posterity. must suffer the consequences
unless the present generation shall make
provision for the future by cuDlivatlng
anew g'owth wherever deficiency is
either felt or feared.
1t is plainly the duty, then Of the
present generation. list. To avoid all need
less waste of what we have and 2nd,
TO make provision for the failure by ;
timely preparation. Then plaat ant
cultivate trees. L.
November. 1852. .-