The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-17
Timber Killers.

The boy, before he cuts his cusped
teeth, longs for Ratchet or an AK; and
he eyes with savage delight the beauty
of the arbor or the forest. As he grows
older the Destroying Angel takes pos
session of him, and he imagines one of
his missions in life is to destroy a good
ly number of trees. In the wooded
districts of the land, we acknowledge
the necessity of telling the timber, and
even destroying it, to make room for
the farm and the advancing civiliza-
ton. But this enmity to trees has
taken such hold of the sons of the
forest-killers that, in travelling through
sections where once grew the most
luxuriant forests. you will find mag
nificent naples and elms and beech,
which were left as shade along the
highways, girdled and dying, or dead.
Go past their spacious farm-houses,
and you will see stunted evergreens or
some foreign shrub scattered over the
lawn. and not forest tree left with its
inviting shade. Cattle loll, with their
tongues out, in the rich meadows, and
not a friendly tree inside of the lines of
fence. The boy with his Ratchet, and
father with his AK, have been there,
and, in the name of thrift and enter
prise, have destroyed what generations
to come after them cannot replace.
Telling timber is all proper to a certain
point, and then it becomes vandalism.
We declare now that the time has fully
come when it should be something
more than poetic call to the woodman
to "spare that tree" We should have
laws enacted in every State for
the protection of forest trees. We
protect the wild deer of the
woods, and the buffalo upon the
plains. and the birds that fly in the air,
but glory in the man whose strong arm
goes on from year to year telling our
forest trees, just us if no generation of
men were to live upon the earth after
we are done with it. The government
of the States cannot too soon make
their enactments, and make it the duty
of every man to plant forest trees along
the highways, and protect them. We
would in this single movement have
long lines of inviting trees stretching
out in every direction, giving comfort
to myriads of people. Aside from the
comfort, it is matter of health and
wealth. Health, because the trees bear
an important part in the publication
of the air in using up the nauseous and
poisonous gases which are destructive
to animal life. Wealth, because, fell
all the forests and the rich soil will
gradually turn to barrenness. Within
the memory of our fathers springs have
run dry and purling, noisy brooks have
been dried up because of the destruc-
ton and waste of our forests. 1t is
only an honorable desire which should
actuate every man that lives upon the
earth to try to leave it at least as good,
if not little better, than he found it,
morally and physically. To-day, in
the United States, according to statis-
tics, there is every year expended in
telling forest trees and manufacturing
them into lumber $3.50. 100000. Two
hundred thousand men are employed
in this occupation alone. What havoc
they are making among the tall pines
and the poplars and the walnut which,
in large quantities, we are shipping to
Europe.
The question does not come up a
one of arresting the legitimate use of
our magnificent forests for the use of
man-not at all. Fell the great oak,
and make the ties and lay the iron rails;
cut the pine, and erect the masts and
attach the sails in the name of COM
merce; but, while we fell, let us be wise
and plant, that those who come after
us shall have springs to drink and a
fertile soil to yield them the comforts
and luxuries that we enjoy. What will
all these railroads be worth, or marble
fronts, when famine shall walk over the
land that is made sterile by the vandal-
ism of selfish men running through the
generations. These are facts, and not
theories, in reference to the value of
forest trees, and subject, contemplate
ing the interests of the future, is more
important and more pressingly neces-
sary than that of giving protection to
our forest trees and planting anew over
the wasted districts of the country.
Congress, few years ago, offered
inducements to settlers upon our free
domain if they would cultivate forest
trees. We do not know what the re-
suit SO far has been, but if further en-
couragement is needed it should be
given unstintedly. Meanwhile, let those
already domiciled remember to plant
the twig, that coming generation may
enjoy the shade and bless them for their
thoughtful kindness.-Ch Chicago Inter-
Ocean.