Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-16
Stealing from Uncle Sam.

SECRETARY sCHURz ON THE TRUE INWARD
NESS OF THE TIMBER DEPREDATIONs.
AEr0POS OF the Congressional discussion of
the depredations on timber lands by the people
of the Territories, called day on Secretary
Schnlz and obtained his version of the matter
These gentlemen in Congress who criticise
and condemn my action" said he, "dO not
seem to understand that am not prosecuting
the poor settlers, as they call them, but that
actually defrauding the poor settlers am
not prosecuting any man who steals firewOod
to burn; but only the spectators who steal
far-away Montana, for from ST tc $lO a cord
yet one of the Senators says that my charge of
81 cord in behalf OF the government is eXtor-
uOnate and OppreSSive!'
In reply to an inquiry, Mr. Schurz said:
"NedO not know what the revenue would
be If the laws were enforced; but it would be
my chief object. My principal wish is to pre-
vent, waste. Everybody knows that stealing
wood is always terribly wasteful. The axe
to market: He leaves three cords to rot on
the ground for every cord he sells. 1t is very
easy 10 make demagoglc protests against my
measure, on the ground that it is prosecuting
the hardy frOntierSman; but the country does
not comprehend what danger there is of its
forests running out. A Senator says Montana
will be uninhabitabe if we prevent specu-
lators from stealing wood and selling it; but /
tell him that Montana will be uninhabitable if
her forests are destroyed. The equableness of
the climate depends on the trees Denude her
ciOus, and it will be terrible when it comes
sweeping everything before it. Since the
wood was destroyed on some of the slopes of
the AppenineS, civilization has almost de-
parted; long drOughtS are succeeded by de-
vastating storms. SO it will be in Montana
and every other state where the war upon the
forests is not interrupted. In Egypt, since the
government transplanted such hosts of trees
TO the Delta, the barren soil has become fer
tile and civilized community has been made
possible: How much good timber and lumber
OF, for the matter of that, how much good fire
wood will there be in this country in half
century, IL this government does not punish
tree-vandaliSnl, as the governments of Europe
have learned to dO?''
This is the substance of MIR. Schurz's expla-
DatlOn OF his course. given in a casual CONVEX
sation-[ Wash'n. Cor. ". Y: Graphic.
:. A FEMALE FORGER.-Facts have GENE to
light which show that Miss Mary Hampton, a
Ieacher in the public schools at Memphis,
Tenn, has been guilty OF forgery in several
sums, Sun Sag aggregatng probably 5000 She used
the public schools. in the Endorsement of notes
which she got caShed by the Emmet bank and
various individuals. Her forgeries extend to
school warrants and include the name of her
Both Miss Hampton and her widowed mother
are respected teachers of long service.
+. FLIGHT OF PREsIDENT BAEz.-The French
rived at Havana Friday. News had been re-
ceived at ST. Thomas that President BaeZ. of
San Domingo, with his family, arrived at May
asuez, in the island of Porto Rico, on March s.
Ihe fact OF his arrival is all that was knownm in
st. Thomas when the steamer left. Nofurther
particulars had been received from Porto Rico
to explain the Presidents departure from San
Domingo, and 10 news whatever of late
events in San Domingo had reached ST.
Thomas.