The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-27

terially increased, during the summers,
as to cause serious notifications OF cli-
mate, producing unfavorable conditions
of our agriculture, and generally injuri-
GUS to public health. Indeed, there have
not been wanting scientific men who
ayerred that the total destruction of our
forests with general neglect OF arbori-
culture, would eventually convert our
fruitful land into an arid desert.
There is no need now to discuss the
influence OF forests upon the hygromet-
ric conditions of the atmosphere, and
consequently upon the rainfall and fer
tility of the country. All this Is well un-
derstood. 1t is equally needless to dis
course upon the economic questions
concerning our future timber supply;
for there is no man who sees cur cities
built and our railways constructed, but
that sees our timber supply vanishing,
vanishing, rapidly vanishing. The
practical matter then is, to con-,
slider how this impending calam-
ity can be avoided,-how we may
give to posterity something OF the
advantages accorded to ourselves in
this regard, and not utterly rob them of
their birthright by seltishly running the
land which they are to possess. We
know that a certain grabbed Ohio Con-
gressman, now deceased, when rallied
upon the duty we owe to posterity, ex-
claimed: "Damn posterityl What did
posterity ever do for usf But we fancy
that such is not the prevailing sentiment
among any class of men, excepting pos
sibly congressman.
And even as against them we must en-
ter an eSoneretatr, since we find that the
House Committee on Public Lands are
favorably considering bill, presented
by Mr.. Dunnell, for the appointment OF q
Special Commissioner, who shall be
charged with the duty OF making full in
quiry into the destruction of forests, as
well as into the measures requisite for the
preservation of timber. This officer, as
the bill proposes, Is to'be called the Com.
missioner OF Forestry; and is to occupy
bureau under the administration of the
Department Of the Interior.
The matters TO be committed to his
charge will be to ascertain the annual
consumption of timber, by use and ex.
portation; the probable supply now ex.
listing, and that may be required for our
own future wants; the best means for
both preservation and renewal, of res.
toration and planting; the changes Of
climate superinduced by the removal or
growth of forests, and all such kindred
topics. We deem this an important and
valuable step; and hope that Congress
will not delay appropriate action to es.
tablish the Commission.
Touching all this matter, we may learn
much that would be valuable from the
policy pursued by other nations tor the
preservation OF their forests. Russia
has General Superintendent of Forests,
whose duties are similar to those pro-
posed for the Commissioner in the bill
above alluded to. He has his deputies
| and suberdinates resident in the several
timbered districts. An inventory ia
made and returned to the Superintend.
ent of all the timber trees in each dis.
trict, giving the kind, location, and size,
of each tree suitable for timber, specify.
ing whether 1t be suitable for ship-build.
ing, house-building, or any other specific
purpose. All trees suitable for ship.
| building are reserved by the Govern.
ment. No tree is allowed to be cut with.
out permit from the local supervisor;
and then only on condition of immedi
ately planting another. In this manner
Russia can at any time ascertain tht
condition of her forests, the quantity
and kinds of timber, and its special
adaptations for given purposes. The re
suit is that her forests are well pre-
served.
Japan has similar provisions with re.
gard to her forests. In China, where no
such provisions obtain, the forests have
been swept away long ages ago; ane
now, what little firewood they use is sold
by the pound, and much of it reaches
them from our coast of Oregon. Timber
for house or ship-building they have none
at all; and procure their supplies from
Oregon and even from Australia. But
in Japan, the whole country is diyersi
fed by beautiful forests, from which all
useless underground is generally Gu
away, leaving the timber trees to more
free aud rapid growth. And there, as in
Russia, no timber tree can be cut with
out Government license, and always
upon condition of planting another. The
result is that the Japanese houses are
well constructed of sound timber, and a
navy could be constructed of reserved
timber from her own forests.
| We ought not to be behind those ma
tions in the care of our forests, from
which we have derived SO much wealth
in the past, and which we shall 50 sorely
need in the future if present destruction
be not checked by some judlcious and
timely legislation.
BYa s'memoriap to the Legislature
the Trustees of our Southern Railroad
| have finally made an exhibit of theii