New-York tribune., 1885-02-17
THE NORTH WOODS.
IL,
EXTENT OF VANDAL DEPREDATIONS.

believe Very few PERSONS whether visitors or residents
Of the mountain country ever see more than small
part Of the entire region. When great tract has been
burned there is nothing in it to attract tourists
and most OF the inhabitants withdraw, to seek
" fresh woods and pastures new" But 1t is only by
exploring all parts OF 1t, and observing the progress OF
ISOLATION where. that just or complete Idea
the present condition Of the country cau be formed
portion OF the forest is burned every year. and
II the OF the annual destruction much less
than usually H. the process OF restoration Is slow
that the complete extinction OF tho woods Is only
question OF The OF desolation advances in
directions each year while the talk about saving
the forests goes
tire for method Of treatment for this whole
subject somewhat different from that which has usually
been pursuedi The actual facts and conditions are
extremely depressing it Is true; and Of course men
are collectively responsible for the destruction they ha
brought about But 1t would that tho practice OF
attacking particular classes OF the people OF this region,
as they examples OF peculiar deprayiiy Is neither
reasonable practically helpful 1t would be nearer
the truth to either that nobody specially culpabe.
that ths people Of the State in general arer ponsle
which would about the thing. The men
who have done most to destroy the Adirondack forests
have acted the principles have been inspired
by the motives, and have employed the same
methods with their countrymen In general who live in
other parts OF the land AMI engaged In other 0ccupa
tons That s they have have endeavored to employ.
organize and direct labor In such 10 obtain
profit from it. They have tried To make to make
living by furnishing somethngt supply great and
constant demand In the markets OF the country. 1t Is
true their m-th,ls have beon for the most part
unwise. short-sghted and ruipOus. Their eXertiOns
have usually been directed entirely to the acquisition Of
present profit with little Thought OF the future. effort
miudgc and 9iar the forests that they might be
permanent OF Income But the great body OF the
people of this country have precisely the aims and
employ. as far rs circumstances will permit, the same
lr.r
all the coal this year II they could unp all the
petroleum AMI squeeze out OF the soil at the tDti
harvesi- ~ thousand onward years ~ am told that
the inhabtsnts OF NewYoTk City sometimes annadver
with considerable severity upon the reckless wasieful
ness OF the dweer. IN these woods aud declare that
are ut the time destroying patrimony ana
theirs Yet IL IL ud that they arc engaged In steaiiy
nliing up their larbor. OF the finest i'll the
world thus bai.duga bar which, II tho process Is con
tnu. will leave their city far inland and inaccessible
% the OF this world. This goes simply
because tho character OF the people OF the great city
supply the foeethonght. and efficient
operation which necessary to prevent such ruin.
so he-e, In tho woods have but followed the
methods o. the existing system % business and c'iza-
ton wasreful and destructive these methods
applied hcreand know OF few things depressing
or painful taoughtfut person than this wreck Of
heritage once fair. and Of such inesmable vaue-i
dpubt anything elective cond have been done 10 stay
this widening ruin at earlier period IL Is not
certain that anything elective can 40 uOHe nov" III
depends lpon tho foresight. energy and efficient CO.
operation OF the people OF this region only but OF
the State OF tho country In general There are
encouraging signs Ia recent uttesncss OF the press OF the
State. and there hs, undeanby been some advance In
public thought rcg.rins tue methods by which tue
state nld deal with such Interests suppose II had
bcem rie years provide system FOR the
~ tho forests belonging 20 tho state Tue effort would
probably have resulted In the creation Of new state
once ~; Albany. q, bc held by aman who knew nothing
ALI ms
JUnkeng trip ~ mountain hotel aud In the autumn
wnuld nave cup.oyoi anJtusr man who knew nothing
about the aoyi, 20 into State Library and write
report rrsmnei with us"c,s rta.isc-. sud abOu1dug
Ia lrsrnrd discussions entirely devoid Of practical
vitality. All that would have been done wou.u have
had more ercot uTo he forests here ihau AZ on the
conditions OF iio up9n t.e moons OF Jupiter inc
destruction OF the woods and OF tie streams would have
ror"aII "',n" e i.AI. % nh r, n't h 's
ayaed Ia prevent tue desccation Of single Of
this great Soo isnd region OF springs aud river
Happily past all That Here In America |
people correct evils a,uses until they have
become iuioerab!c never bcgn ~ take care of any
valuable possession II has been IL curably ruined.
-, this token II Is about time to begin Ia consider, In
dack woods By toe time the state nas Devised 'on-
abe system. and evolved methods vitnj rclau- Tie
facts ia the there will not be- nnoh Of the woods
left 10 care for niak they have aisanced In what
DE called public common sense that the people of
the state will denioud that there sha De real siami
nation OF the condition OF tue forests and q orough DIS
remains. with intrusion OF partisan considerations
aud no conoealmen avoidance or misrepresentation ~
.,y or ,pO e 81 ptscs . s 1 sp ssSe
or thoroughly efficient System osn be Devised probably,
until moro Is known abo"t the woods aud their human
"cnyironm"nt than "a now known ty any public man.
The rtae does not yet know how to take care Of the
Ian IA she already owns likely. while this the
nst she exercise efficient and beneficial super
vision tn. forest lands belonging 10 Individual cit
nens or that restrictive legislation alone will rroluce
results o marked vauc Tno'e has been, as yet. me-
thorough will he required before any adequate -ssiem
can be pa, In M1'Ins naa can ~ WI" nr
practical wisdom than the people possess TO save tho
which the forests are DESTROYED Every ono names the
lumber lnd',try nrst. iisr all that has been said
ng,n.t them. / still think lumbermen are much like
ohsr people Many OF them Indifferent 10 everything
destroyed tho forests and ruined portions Of the
Wilderness. but the lunberman IA not distinguished.
above men In general In this country aud tin.e for
this roprchenSble trait Would other men-hs critics
evsnhnve done bot,"r IN hs place There are diaer-
cut the woods on clean and entirely at fell y0op,
not. usually own the lands they numbering on"
After all the timber has been cut IL no ones nte'est
the state hy tho non-payment OF taxes At any rate.
whoever own IT, II Is almost inevitably burned over.
the streams sftergrowtL of young trses; more
soil only Sas"G PeBstSn as,S..n a .Irn and
bare perhaps still more speedily and the result Is the
same
Ali uhe pine. spruce and herlock large enough for
valuable lumber lht be cut without tho total destrno
liam Of the forest II men had suncent knowledge and
q rod enough about tho matter To tho proper
rneaods As things fire IL cvery wherc In tho woods
di,ions are maintained whole region is doomed But
lnnbermsn tho best conservaors OF tho forest
hat there present. Some OF them enfeayOr tO
tho bost known methods In the management ot their
They only the largo guard gainst hes
With tho that I, possible under tho crcum
stances. ana employ ali available conditions To Promote
the growth of young trees aud tho pernannnce ~ tho
Not Of the State lands Ia the Adirondack
region IL we'll cared for the domains OF of
the great lumber companira
Not long ago rode through tho "Schro0n Country "
with II who has perhaps, done as IGuoh ss any ono
TO deso region. From MEervG, Via PottArsvile,
schroon Lake Schroon River (koOts Hot.l and on
along the EzabethtOwn rOsd pas; Dcadwaer to the new
throneh tho forest to Smith Behd)s We
cllod all day long through blighted ard hopeless
after of utter desoati"n uhrolio1
before and around ua became more and more silent |