Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-27

direction, for the press, with an eye to the
demands of the people and its own re.
wards, realizes that its readers care less
than ever for small legislative weights, and
the weary routine Of procedure preferring
as they do the pith0lnd kernel OF SO much
as is worthy their time and consideration.
THE DESTRUCTION OF TIMBER.
We recently quoted an Eastern journal
to the effect .that the high tariff would
work irreparable injury to the forests of
the North Atlantic States. Mr.. Bayard
recently, in the Senate. pointed out the
inconsistency of Offering bonus for the
cultivation of timber, and at the same time
of excluding foreign lumber. Bierstadt,
the artist, is quoted as stating that there
is great danger of the extinction OF the
forests about the headwaters of the Mis-.
souri, and the Mississippi and their afilu.
ents. Last week we referred at length
to the alarm that now prevails in the State
of New York concerning the destruction
of timber there, and the consequent en-
dangering of the headwaters of the chief
streams.
Senator Ingalls, declares that three tifths
of our people use wood for fuel, and annu.
ally consume the product of 100000
square miles of heavily timbered land.
There can be nc question as to the vital
Importance of this subject, and the neces-
sity for immediate action One of the first
steps should be the removal of all restric-
tiohs upon the importation of lumber. The
Senate has put upon the free list timber,
squared or sided, not specially enumerated,
sawed boards, plank deals and other lum-
Der of hemlock, wildwood, sycamore,
Eastwood and all other articles of sawed
lumber; also laths, shingles, and pine and
spruce clapboards.
Within the next decade the majority of
the people of the United States will be
forced to the use of other fuel than wood,
OCOauoOy WiiobONCA INV DO dOstOf SO GA
tensive and widespread has been forest de.
struction that timber for fuel will be held
at rate amounting to practical en-
barge upon its use, for economical importa.
ton of wood, save upon the borders, will
not be practical. The enlargement of the
free list-or, what will be better, the abo-
lition of all. timber duties-will, however,
maintain the lumber supply and enable us
to give serious attention to forest culture
and conservation. On this point the pro-
tectionists and free traders must meet
upon the level. 1t is neither question of
free trade nor of protection wholly, but
one of forest preservation. So serious a
question does the New York Post consider
it that it exclaims 'The future prosperity
of the country is at stake. We must not
deliberately allow our forests to be de-
stroyed, and email upon ourselves and our
children all the evils which their destruc.
tion will bring. merely to make few lum.
Der men rich.
While the tariff-lumber question has
less immediate significance for the people
of this coast, the subject of forest preser-
walton is scarcely less important than on
the Atlantic side. We have the opportu-
nifty, by now sparing the ak, to avoid evils
which can only with great difficulty be
ho%a NJ {Ea IT,
bearing trees of California need especial
attention, with view to their preserva-
ton. Some of the finest species are now
well nigh extinct, but happily enough re-
main to insure new growth under proper
protection. While we have permitted
them to be largely destroyed, Germany,
Italy and Spain have been for twenty
years purchasing the cone seeds in Cali.
fornia and cultivating the cone-bearers in
those lands, and with marked success
The most recent issue of the Cologne
Gazette at hand informs us that an inves-
tigation ordered by the German Govern.
ment into the causes of the recent disas-
trous overflow of the Rhine, has reported
that it was due to the denudation of nights
in the Alps in Switzerland. An interna-
tional congress is recommended, to provide
for the protection of forests on headwaters
and forest culture in Switzerland, and un-
til that is done foundations similar to that
OF this month will become more and more
frequent, and more and more destructive
This action should be suggestive to
America.
The whole forestry question is full of
interest, and nowhere should it engage
deeper and more earnest attention than
upon the Pacific slope. If our legislators
are wise in their day they will at once set
on foot the proper inquiry to develop all
the facts, with view to the establishment
of Forestry Commission, il need be.
eLIMesEs OF THE TRUTH.