The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-17

Serious fires, set for the most part by
sparks from locomotive engines, have re-
Gently devastated considerable areas OF
forest In the upper and lower peninsulas Of
Michigan and In Pennsylvania. In COM
menting upon this fact, some Of the special
organs OF the lumber manufacturing indus
try have made the assertion that such fires
are. and always must be, Inevitable, and that
therefore the collection OF the duty by tho
Government OF the United States upon lum-
Der entering this country-inasmuch as 1t
hastens, as they acknowledge, the destruc-
ton OF our pine and spruce forests, by stimu-
lating the manufacture of lumber of these
kinds--is wise and economical measure
A correspondent OF the Tribune OF this city,
In al argument against the removal OF the
lumber duty, states some pertinent and i'm
portant facts. Il believe" no says, at Is
generally conceded by those who are familiar
with the subject, that the lower grades OF
pine lumber are now produced In most cases
without profit. As numbering In Michigan Is
now conducted, the forests are practically
cut clean OF every tree that will produce
marketable lumber. A further reduction In
the price of lumber consequent upon the re-
moval OF the tariff would make the cutting
OF coarse grades Of trees impracticable, ex-
cept at a loss"
The real reason why the duty upon lumber
should be removed, and why Congress has
thus for utterly and shamefully failed In It's
duty to the country in failing to consider
THIS great public question upon its merits, ia
that free lumber will prevent the needless
destruction Of young and growing trees In
accessible forests like those OF Michigan or
Wisconsin, or of remote mountain forests
like those which cover the slopes Of the Adj.
rondack Mountains. the chief value of which
Is found not In the logs which they can furnish
to the mills. but in their protective influence
upon important water sheds.
The danger OF destructive fires In forests
IN which numbering operations have been
commenced Is very great, especially In re-
glons penetrated by railroads; but this danger
snot so great as many persons suppose, and
1t Is certainly possible through legislation to
greatly reduce 1t. Tho lumberman's theory
that no forest Is really safe from fire until
1t Is piled in lumber yard Is as alb
,surd az 1t Is short-siRhted. Forests are
successfully protected from fire In other
countries, like the foot-hill hgiop of India,
where the danger and the opportunity for
forest fires arc infinitely greater than they
are In many OF our States; and the popular
belief, fostsred by Interested persons who
make use OF this argument to induce
congress to retain the duty upon
Humber. that all our forests must
sooner or later fall prey to de.
vouring flames, will work inestimable in
Jury upon tho country. Our forests, unless
they are to cease producing valuable tim
Ders, must be worked upon some principle
which will tend to continue the growth of
tue most valuable trees, and 80 perpetuate
their productive capacity. The pine forests
OF the North are valuable to the country for
the pine which they produce, and which the
soil ana climate OF that part OF the country
are admirably adapted to develop. The
other trees which ore associated with tho
pines In these forests are OF much less gen.
eral value. In other regions Of the country
they attain greater growth and excellence
1t Is the preservation and perpetuation Of
the pine, therefore. which offers the principal
forest problem to the people OF the pine
States, like Michigan or Minnesota. In
Maine and In the Adirondack region OF this
State it is the preservation of tho spruce
which should receive peculiar attention.
Inc first steps toward forest protection In
this country arc only difficult In the careless
disregard OF tho American people upon all
questions relating to their forests dis
regard born of the very immensely and
wealth OF the forests which once covered the
whole OF eastern America. What Ia neces-
sary to be DONE IL our forests are to
continue indefinitely producing timber,
as the forests OF Europe produce
taelr annual crops with - great