Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-03


of existing mountain forests and the pro-
cesses of nature therein, for it has been
demonstrated that once the ruin dominates
no absolute restoration is possible. The
woodlands AK is scarcely more destructive
than the herds of the stock-raiser and the
reckless acts of the huntsman. Nature, by
forest disease, natural decay and her
storms, very nearly provides for the ade
quate thinning out of timber in the higher
attitudes. Such forests as We now have are
imperatively needed for the retention of
moisture in the soil, the preservation OF
climatic conditions. the shelter of game
and such birds as are necessary to use, the
integrity of the rivers, that the valleys
may not be submerged in floods, and that
arabic lands may not be covered by the silt
of the slopes Mr.. Hough, in 1877, in a
report made to the Government, urged
upon Congress the passage and enforce
ment of laws to prevent the indiscriminate
destruction of our forests, by protecting
the new crops Of trees by the shelter OF the
old until the former can with safety to the
general interest be removed but Congress
has done nothing in that direction worth
the mention. 1t has not even taken the
ordinary precautions to prevent forest fires,
that have long been adopted into the pol
IL for hon !
the Constitutional Convention of Colorado
memorialized Congress, reciting that:
\ comparison of the condition of cur forests
sixteen years ago, when our Territory began to
settle up, with that at present, ami taking into
consideration that there is geometrically pro
crossing consumption of wood to be anticipated,
entities lis to the belief that twenty-five years
from now the devastation of our forests will be
complete, and that our mountains then viii
rather have the appearance of enormous ruins
than that of an inviting field for human enter
prise. 1t would be a shame fer an intelligent
people to look with Indifference at such an APP
preaching calamity and it would be an unpar
donable mistake in a wise Government not to
provide in time whatever may be the sacrifice,
against an evil which, when once it oyertakes
us, can never afterward lie remeded, or at least
not for centuries
The same body pointed out il. strong
language that forests are magazines of
moisture, direct agencies in regulating
climate and vegetation, retainers of melt
in; SHOWS, gradual yielders Of rainfall to the
natural capacity Of streams, attractors Of
moisture, preservers of springs, fertilizers of
the atmosphere, moditiers Of heat, and the
immediate and indispensable auxiliaries
of agriculture. Without them no irriga-
ton system can be promoted, no navigable
streams preserved, but floods and the de
struction of valley lands Will be inevitable.
If forest devastation goes on in the upper
Sierras rs now progressing, for twenty-five
years more, it IS not 4 fanciful forecast to
state that by reason Of heat in summer
and water in winter, parched soil and de-
scent of sands, the valley lands next along
the foothills aud upon the water courses
may have TO be abandoned for agricult-
ural purposes. The reduction Of Spain
from a region Of renowned fertility to a
State where agriculture is Of little profit
and comparatively but scanty population
is supported, is attributed to the same
causes that in Persia, Greece, Turkey,
Asia Minor, Russia and South Africa have
edsuch dire results-forest destruction.
1t Is established among forestry students
as an axiom that in all countries where
dry climate prevails and irrigation in any
part is necessary to agriculture, the forest, |
should be withdrawn from private entry
and put under such control as 10 keep them |
in fourishing condition. The reciprocal |
influences that operate between woodlands /!
and climate are OF such close relation |
and so undeniablc, that no one now
ventures to deny them During several |
successive Years this journal has called the
attention Of the State Legislature to the |
necessity for action-at least for inquiry
and we would be derelict of duty if we
failed to again invite the earnest atten-
ton OF legislators TO TINS important sub
Jet The last Legislature manifested a
disposition to enter upon the work, but in
the pressure Of less important business
even an unsalaried commission of inquiry
failed Of appointment. Time should now
lie taken by the forelock, and the step |
made 81 early in the session that the mat
ter Will not be buried ont OF sight beneath
a mass Of bills. The late storm empha-
sized the importance Of immediate inquiry,
if not Of direct action, for it vas patent to /;
all Observers that the rains in the mount
aims flooded the streams and returned to
She valleys more quickly than ever be-
fore, and that the mountain soil is rapidly !
losing its capacity to retain the moisture
and iced the rivers.