Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-03-12
Destroying Forests.

Just now the people of all parts OF
the country are discussing the question
of restoring destroyed forests and pre-
serving those that remain. Already
some parts of our land are suffering
from the destruction of their wood
land. The able editor of the Augusta
Chronicle sounds the note of warning
TO our southern people. He says:
English and New England capitalists
are reported to be purchasing enor-
nous tracts of southern woodland.
They have an eye to the future. Old as
the settlement of the southern part of
the republic is, it contains immense
tracts of land of untouched forest
growth. These lands are being pur
chased by strangers for a very small
sum of money They will be worth
many millions of dollars in less than
fifty years The south possesses val
liable timber of all kinds and in great
profusion. The east and west are be-
ing rapidly stripped of their trees, and
so raid is being made upon this Sec
ton, in anticipation of a golden har-
vest If our own people are not able
or willing to develop their magnificent
Inheritance, the stranger will do ii.
The Lord will not allow such a country
as this to remain stagnant. What we
are incapable of doing for ourselves
will be done by others, and their and
not our children will be the benefited
parties.
In this connection, we see it stated.
by Prof Sargent, in his address be-
fA,
ciety. that next 20 the wasting pro-
cess of the American lumbermen is
the criminal negligence that permits
SO much woodland to be destroyed an
nually by fire. He says: "Some adj
equate authority ought to put n check
on the short sighted greed of the
lumbermen, who are skimming the
country at one stroke of its forests and
entailing climatic results of the gray
est kind. The Roman who planted
trees for postcrity was an old fool if
these lumbermen are wise" 1t Is
worth knowing that while Prof. Sar-
gent appeals for the better protection
of the woodland. he does not believe
in the theory hat forests produce
rain. He agrees with Prof. Whitney.
of Harvard College, who IS quoted as
declaring that the desSicatiOn of the
earth's surface, which is certainly 90
ing on and has altered the destinies of
races and nations, is not due in any
way 70 distressing the earth's sur
face. But both of these practical
scientists agree that some stop
should be put upon the wanton de-
struction of trees, and every encour-
agoment given to their judicious per-
pctuation The Chicago Tribune goes
to the extent of ridiculing the tax on
lumber importation as one of the abb
surdities of our fiscal system and saws:
at is bounty on the determination of
our trees, as if they were wolves or
Canada thistles. 1t is a premium on
the destruction of our forests 1t is
perhaps more than any other item in
our tariff not protective but destruc-
tive. Ourpolicy ought to be to encour-
age the importation of lumber in all
ways, and preserve our own forest as
carefully as possible. The rise in their
value will repay thOusandfold.
Wethink the southern people are un-
wise in disposing of their grand forests
for mere pittance. The day is COM
ing when they will be among the most
lucrative sources OF income. We ap
prehend, however, that the European
and the Yankee will have the cream of
our forests and, rs usual, proceed to
develop them for their own advantae
at our expense.