The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-09-18
The Destruction of Our Forests.

We are reminded nearly every year by the
forest fires of the early summer, of the great
need in which we stand Of more effective
measures for the preservation of our growing
timber, and for the cultivation of a supply for
future use.
A few months ago fires swept over and de-
stroyed thousands of acres OF trees in Pennsyl-
wanna and New Jersey, and IN those states and
in others of the Union the loss OcCasioned by
the contagrations was measured by millions
OF dollars 1t was loss, too, irreparable in this
generation for, while Boston and Chicago
may be speedily built anew after they have
been devastated by fire, we must wait for
many years for the growth OF new timber
Throughout regions of the country at one time
famous for their forests, these woodland fires
have left only blackened trunks, and the cal
cined soil now refuses to support anything
better than scrub growths, hucheberry AMI
blackberry bushes.
1t plain enough that if this sort of de
struction goes on, and there is no concerted
effort to promote the cultivation of timber, we
shall not have to wait very long before we be-
gin to experience the inconvenience OF short
supply. While the fires are working so much
damage to the forests, Il constant and wanton
waste of the timber IN other ways is helping
or bringing nearer to US the evil day of search
ty. The demand for building purposes, manu-
nually, and to meet that call alone great care
would need to be exercised III the preservation
of the forests, The native supply of timber
of the better qualities, once seemingly eX-
haustless is rapidly becoming less, and is con
fined to comparatively narrow regions.
Our forests are thinned out to meet the enor-
nous and growing demand for building They
are laid low to procure material for fencing,
and thousand acres of trees are feled or burn
g. IL IT.. l,nr
vast area is denuded of trees. For railroad
ties the saplngs are cut out at prodigious
rate, and manufacturers are all the time be-
coming more greedy for timber. And yet the
waste caused by the forest fires, in some years,
tar exceeds the amount of timber actually cut
for use, or destroyed to meet real or suppos-
ed necessity.
The Committee on Forestry of the Ameri.
can Association for the Advancement of Sci.
ence, In view of the facts and circumstances
we have related, submitted last week at Bos
ton the draught of memorial to the govern.
Ors of states calling their attention to the need
of care to preserve and cultivate our future for
est supplies. In Europe the maintenance of
due proportion of forests on the public domain
has long been the object of laws and regula-
tons passed by all the principal Governments;
but here the land IS chiefly held by private
owners, who are not restricted as to Its use.
In most OF the older and in some of the newer
states, there are no lands whatever adapted to
timber culture, which belong to either the
state or the local Governments. All are vested
IN men who hold their property without any
conditions IA to the planting or preservation
of trees. The most the State Legislature,
therefore, can do is to stimulate and encourage
the private owners to keep up proper pro
portion Of timber land.
The memorial recommends that this be done
in eight different ways. 1t would have laws
passed protecting trees along the highways,
and encouraging such plantations by deduc-
tons from the highway taxes. 1t would ex-
empt from taxation the increased value of land
from the planting OF trees, where none were
growing until some profit may be had from
the plantation. 1t would appropriate money
to agricultural and horticultural societies, TO
be applied as premiums for tree planting, re .
gard being had TO the greatest areas planted
and the most successful management Prizes
for the best essays and reports upon subjects
of practical forest culture; the encouragement
of educational institutions IN introducing prac-
teal instruction in sylviculture; the distribu-
ton of seeds and plants; the establishment
and maintenance by the state under favorable
circumstances, of model plantations under the
care Of persons trained TO the profession of
forestry; the appointment of a commission of
forestry, under state authority. analogous to
the commission Of fisheries In many OF the
ststes-all these measures are suggested by
the memorial. Finally it advises more strin.
gent laws for the prevention of forest fires.
This subject OF forest preservation and tree
culture Is one of the highest importance, and
of very fascinating interest We are glad
therefore, that II Is coming into so frequent