The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-12-06
AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION.

In his message of day before yesterday
the president called attention to matter
that should attract much more considers-
ton with us than 1t uoes at present We
| refer to the rapid destruction Of timber in
| the United States and the means necessary
for the preservation thereof In England
| special statutes have been enacted to keep
| the timber ofthe realm from being destroyed
and yet the problem of where the wood
Of the future shall come from is even
now among the most serious they
will have to solve. We have before directed
attention to the vas. possibilities in this re-
spect in our own state, but the remarks Of
the president have given additional dignity
and importance to the subject, AS init.
mated by Mr.. ARTHUR, the climate, even,
of country depends upon its wood
lands or want Of such, as he remarks
in speaking of the forests, which
are so rapidly disappearing everywhere.
their action in protecting the earth sur
face in modifying the extremes OF climate
and regulating and sustaining the flow Of
springs and streams is not well understood
I and their importance in relation to the
growth and prosperity Of the country can.
not be safely disregardcd." The president
thinks therefore that the rapid de-
struction of timber, as indicated
is cause for very serious
apprehension, and thinks that congress
should enact some measures calculated To
protect our American forests and prevent
in the future wood famine. The real
trouble is not in the notifications of eli
mate engenderet but in the dangers that
may arise from a want of wood as a build.
ing material AS well as for fuel in a few
years. The necessities of commerce and
trade are rapidly exhausting our for
ests in the north, and lumber is
| steadily from year to year, therefore,
growing in value. If in the great timberod
sections or lumber states such suggestions
as the president makes with reference to
this rubect are not adopted, in few years,
his gravest opprehonsious, so far as the re-
gions referred to are concerned, will
| be realized. The matter is one that
should set the south to thinking MS in
view OF the destruction of the north
ern forests, the southern piner'es will be
brought into the utmost Importance and
requsition. We should, therefore, OF all
others, heed these recommendations OF
PRESIDENT ARTHUR aud insist upon the eye
OF legislation being turned towards this
matter. Since the days of the Indian
in this western prairie country timber
has begun to grow finely, and aside
from the dense forests in the eastern por-
tions of Texas, which can by proper care
be made n source Of illimitablc wealth tc
us, it Is possible to cultivate the growth Of
| timber in the state to an extent not hereto
fore dreamed Of The suggestion of the
president, therefore, in the premises, is one
that should be especially needed in this
state, both with reference to the preserva.
ton of what We have and the inaugura,
ton of measures to cultivate more
extensively than heretofore the
growth of the interest referred to. II may
seem singular that congress and state !egs.
latures should be called upon TO enact
measures that are necessary to pre-
serve the timber OF the country,
but the fact that the president has
called attention in his annual mes
sage to the matter 10 sufficient
guarantee that the subject is one OF inn
portance and ought TO be attended to. Our
legislators should, therefore, give the re-
commentators of the presidenta respect
lul attention, an' for the futures sake take
measures to preserve and even increase the
magnificent forests of the country upon
which so much depends.
n