Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-14
FOREST CONSERVATION.

Inc ulScuSSlOn DeSUn some weeks
ago by the New York Sun, and since
participated in by other leading jour
nails of that ana adjoining states, in
reference to the great importance Of
the great preservation of the Adrion-
dack forests, has had the effect OF
arousing considerable interest in the
subject of forest protection through
out the country, especially in the east
ern and northern States. Many Of the
leading journals of the country have
taken part in this Discussion, and not
few of the articles which lave ap-
pcored on the subject exhibit deep re-
search and an intelligent appreciation
of the importance of the theme. -
While the Lumbcrman is no alarnl.t,
and does not believe that the danger
of timber famine is so near in the
future as some OF the writer's cn this
subject assert, yet the danger is not 80
remote as to justify any delay in the
adoption OF Measures TO avert, as far
as possible, the consequences of the
wholesale-andi in toe many instance 5
useless and ill-advised-slaughter of
our forests which is now allG has been
going on for some time. The ST. Louis
Globe Democrat, of recent date, in n
timely and sensible article on this sub
Jet, says:
- One CT the principal diiIltultirs ia
the way is 10 81 tls people 10 under
and Tie necessity of care and ecoGo-
MY - to trees. They lave been 50
long accustomed to eAtravaeunce and
wa.ts. and our forests lave seemed to
be so incXliaustibie, that il is latd 10
realize that there !. an absolute dan
ger at last Of having 10 80 abroad for
lumber. il i; shcu,G bc Shown Ia tlIe
country that within the LeAt - or ~
years il would probably hccoIhp !. 20
sible to r2ist a wheat crop, sufficient Ia
meet the domestic wait, NC may be
sure il would meet national c. n>tcrI IL
| lion, ana lasteu gclcial sc-rcil fcf
means OF pre- Vtl.t.on; "a yet The val
Tie of our 1oTcst rUduct is ualiy oi
more value than any crtp yielded ty
agriculture. lie raw material turned
out earh year in IL. thape OF logs and
lunller is laced at the enormous sum
of $500, COZ, ,COC, while the number ol
pcrsons who find enpioNmei.t in gath
erinS it and applying ii exceeds ii mil
holL This does But make account,
either, OF what is used by the railroads
for ties and similar purposes, an ";noHnI
estimated 20 equal each year the tota
product of 6S, 0OU acres of the best
, Woodlands.
THE practice of destroying younq
trees i'm order to utilize the land foi
Grain raising still goes on, despite the
fact that such lands are worth NOR,
with the trscs lett standing, and woulc
, In the long run yield a better return
than can possibly be obtained by cul
tivxtion. We still use large quantities
= OF wood for fuel Notwithstanding oul
: abundant and easily available deposits
+ of coal of every grade. in the mining
regions enough trees are annually fellec
! and wasted to approximate closely th'
value Of all the ore taken out OF tn
earth. In u general way, we take les
: thought, perhaps, of the value anC
{ utility OF forests 'han OF anything els
that grows. The philosophy of civil
: zation on this continent has been t.
= regard trees as hindrances and incun
3 brances, to he disposed OF as rapid
as possible. rather than rs so lnucl
definite wealth. 10 be used CAREFUL
: and preserved against period OF pos
4 Sible and logical scarcity. We are no'
at point where this pernieious cours
must be speedily arrested and changed
or we soon shall be asking other ni
tions to sell us lumber for the ordinar
uses of manufacture and mechanics
progress, to say nothing of the col
slant and growing demand on accour
OF the necessities OF building.
We can learn valuable lesson
this matter by consulting the experiei
ces of other and older nations. Thel
was a time when Italy, hungary, low
or Spain and the best portions OF SEQ
land, we're better supplied with iores
than America has ever been, and the
were practically ruIned by pernittir
the surface OF the country to be stri
ned of trees and made barren and de
olate. hustria and Germany, to-
/ we're brought near to a similar cond
4 sufficient forethought to avert tie C
lalnity by taking vigoroGs and systei
attic measures to stop the process
\ disbo~eation and foster the growth
] forests instead of consenting TO the
/ destruction. The result is that Pru
4 ria. for instance, now not only has Z
4 fle tim ber she needs for home purpc
3 as. but is able 10 export annually
. quantity of that product which retur
Z her clear profit of $40, ,0OO,O ,OcO. IL
8 possible, OF course, for governmer
: like those of Austria and Germany
= do a great many things that n cover
u.eut like ours cannot accomplish
that why. Their system OF official
pervision in forestry matters is u
p rracticaLle here, perhaps; but
= shoul a at least BE willing 10 proht
:. their example. and devise protect