Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-11

A bill has been introduced into sne CaIi-
sor,;. ,e,;.,.,.,e 10 encourage the planting |
Of shade trees.
strange that such legislation is nee |
esssry in the land CT pig uees, nut u isa
a.. hat the waste and OBSTRUCTION OF TIM
,lts ee.tlcrs or California have barred
,be sell IN many places to the sun aud
winds or miles. and changed the cool
rrores and pleasant shady spots TO dusty
! mains, - innocent Of trees as the Arabian
desert. This Is especially the case upon
tn public roads. with The mos, attrac
tise rural scenery in the world says
San Franeisco journal, We have the drcairest
roads aud tie saldest country houses End
! villages Of any state in the Union. For
life cen years a warfare has been made upon
the trees growing upon the plains and along
thoroughisrcs, uLtIl few Of them are now
left.
Il Vas one Or the basbssious customs Of
the early settlers y cut down the trees in
the neighbeshsed Of thsis houses and white
wash the stumps, % . ehssp and easy
method q once Of clearisg the land and
marking" the road and this Wholesale
destruction Was carried 90 with such utter
lack Of caution and Judgement. that whole
regions are now nearly destitute OF the
protection and advantsges, given to the
cen and to its cultivation BY the presence
of forest trees. The consequences are that
, the viude have full sweep end the sun and
storms full play throughout those region ;
their fraitfulness is impaired and the health
and comfort OF tbs residents materially d.
minished, TO say nothing Of the desola'e
aud mono,onous aspect of these long reach
ss Of shade less roads, bald fields aud star.
ing houses.
, This wanton destruction of timber is no,
, confined to Californis, Even q greater
J waste Of the same kind has been going OF
! for years in many paris OF the states east o.
/ the Rocky Mountains. The apparently in
exhaustible forests have encouraged arsck
( less spirit Of waists in the feeling OF timber
! which 10 already tslt disassrously both In {
1 commercial and an agricultural sense. Thu
Q increased demand ios sOme kinds Of lum
: Der has furnished enc excuse for such prod
q igality but the true cause Of the misehie
d liss not in the nssessity for increased sup
J ply, bat ia the cant 81 care and Judgsmen
I displayed in meeting the demand. Th
d wants OF the lumber market could be amp
> " aud seasonably met without iujuriou
10 results 10 tho forest growths, il judiciou
{ intelligence and foresight we're displadsd ]
10 :hs selection Of the trees 70 be fsllsd, th
time and manner Of telling them and sent
II ing to market.
a But the lumtermea are not the onl
4 MASTERS of trees. The farmers, too. oite
:, seem to have spite against them. Va'
numbefs Of trees Gre cut down IN farm!
il which, If merely thinned add cropped, vii
u IN enlightened view 70 their protective Il
: fluencss, would actually increase the valu
IA Of The homestead ten per cent. In . sing
IN year.
:. Ii such men, instead Of igaorartly GU
10 ting down tree, would plant one in Ne
~ selected spot, they would not only do SOM
m thing creditabls and profitable - thes
!, selves, but also confer practical bsnsf
=. upon the general community. Whsth'
- legislative action is the proper remedy Il
il this evil may be . question; but that son
,s means should be employed to snlighten q
h public mind with regard to the conseqenc
~ Of such waste Is certain, and any prop
"a influence that may encourage rural cor
OF munitics to plant and prune skilfully. i
he stead OF foolishly telling the forest AZ
90 shade trees Of their valleys and hillside
n will be IN ultimate blessing to the countr