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

A h,l, haze hecn introduced into the Cali
forn;, LEGISLATURE to encourage the planting
Of shade trees.
u :. s,r.nro tina. such legislation is nee
c.s,,v in the land of big trees, but it isl
g.. i, a The waste and destruction OF tim
-. H., ths e.ilers CT California lave barred |
.hs soil in many places to the sun and |
y,nds f9r miles. and changed the cool !
groves aad pleasant shady spots 10 dusty |
mains. Is innocent Of trees as the Arabian
desert. This is especially the case upon
tn. public roads "Wi,h Tie most attrac
tive rural scenery in the world" says a
Saa Francisco journal, We have the drcairest
roads aad the kaldest country houses End
viilsges Of any state in the Union. For
lifeen years q warfare has been made upon
the trees growing upon the plains and along
thoroughfarcs, Until few OF them are nov
left.
Il vas ons Of the bafbesious customs Of
| the early settlers 70 cut down the trees in
the nsishbeshsod Of their houses and white
wash the stumps. % . ehssp and easy
method q once Of clearing the land and
marking" the road and this wholesale
destruction was carried on with such utter
lack Of caution and Judgement. that whole
regions are now nearly destitute Of tue
protection and advantages. given TO sns
sen and 70 its cultivation by the presence
Of forest trees The consequences are that
the winds have full sweep and The sun and
storms full play throughout those region !;
their fruitfulness is impaired and the health
and comfort Of this residents materially d.
minished, to say nothing Of the desolats
aud monoionous aspect Of these long reach
o. of shadeess roads, bald fields and star.
ing houses.
THIS wanton destruction Of timber is not
confined to Californis, Even q greater
waste Of the same kind has been going on
for years in many paris OF the states east Of
the Rocky Mountains. The apparently in.
exhaustlble forests have encouraged areck-
+ less spirit of waists in the feeling OF timber
which 10 already ielt disastrously both In Z
commercial and an agricultural sense. The
increased demand fos some kinds Of lum
Der has furnished enc excuse for such prod
igality but the true cause Of the mischie
/ lies not in the necessity for increased sup
ply, but In the want 81 care and judgement
I displayed in meeting the demand. Thu
! wants OF the lumber market could be amp
) " and seasonably met without iOjuricu
. results to the forest growths, il judiciou
: intelligence and foresight we're disp!aded II
o :hs selection Of the trees 70 be fsllsd, ID
time and manner Of telling them and send
T ing to market.
A But tho lumtermca are not the onl
4 wasters Of trees. The farners, too. oitel
!, seem to have spite against them. Va
!. numbers Of trees ore cut down on farms
!. which, II merely thinnsd and cropped, wiz
+ an enlightened view 70 their protective Ia
!. Auencss. would actually increase the valu
Il Of the homestead ten per cent. In singl
h year.
= II such men. instead Of iguorarsly GU
!. ting down . tree, would plant one in 10
a selected spot, they would not only do som'
n thing creditsbls and profitable g the.
4 selves, but also confer . practical bsnef
!. upon the general community. Whsihs
- legislative action is the proper remedy IL
il this evil may be . question; but that som
!. means should be employed to snlightsn th
public mind with regard to the conseqencs
= Of such waste Is certain, and any propt
"A influence that may encourage rural con
81 munitcs to plant and pruns skilfully. Il
- stead OF foolishly telling the forest an
20 shade trees Of their valleys and hillside
1. will DO an ultimate blessing to the countr,