Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-21
SOME THOUGHTS ON FORESTRY.

SOME THOUGHTS on FORESTRY.
There was one thing stated and proved
nj Denver the other day in the Forestry
Congress that ought to attract universal
attention. That is, that there is a direct
and unerring relation between the denuda-
tion Of forested lands and the decadence of
rivers having their rise therein.
OF course all who have read anything of
the history Of forestry know that this is
not a new fact. But in the application of
i TO American rivers there is new truth,
and that is hal our streams are, as a whole
less torrential than those of Europe, all of
them less swift in flow, because Of less fall
to the mile therefore forest destruction
upon headwaters is not SO soon perceptible,
bat when it has become 50 great as to be
noticed, il is certain to have passed to a
stage very difficult to remedy.
If, for instance, we can suppose the head
waters Of hc Hudson, Mississippi, Mis-
sonri, or even Of the Sacramento, to be
suddenly stripped OF forest growth, we can
conceive Of the vast cost and the great
lapse o. time before the damage could be
repaired. But in Europe, where the
streams are shorter and descend more di-
rectly, where population is more dense, and
the arm Of the law more speedy, because
ore autocratic, earlier relief is possible e.
In stimulating the spirit for tree plant
ing, We are cultiyating knowledge OF its
uses and necessities, and the intimate rela-
lion there Is between forest preservation
and commerce between the growth and a
genial even climate; between ~denudation
Of the hills, and the destruction of navi-
gable streams; between vandalism and
public health between a growing tree and
floods between forest foliage and agricult-
ure.
In 1877 Congress secured an invaluable
report from one of its departments upon
forestry. Beyond the printing Of the
Iuass Of useful information contained in
that book, there have been no special re-
suits. The nation has had too much of
politics and financial experimenting upon
It's mind 10 give due attention to the slow
but steady inroads woodmen, timber
thieyes, hunters, stock herders and others,
have lecn making upon 4 of the greatest
sources Of wealth, health, safety apd pros
Perity of which We are possessed.
The American Forestry Congress has
been maintained upon a basis Of pure
philanthropy. When it is said there are
few disinterested men in the land, We
point to that organization as one group of
them. 1t exists solely to do good to others,
and without hope Of reward. 1t has not
even had the encouragement of %recogni-
lion from The National Congress. Through
its energetic action, however. the people
have been aroused to The value Of arbor
days and the necessity of forestry laws
and their rigid enforcement, but here on
the Pacific slope, where we have been
more than prodigal Of our timber growth,
it, influence is just beginning to he felt.
We have permitted the wanlon destruc-
lion Of enough timber on this coast to
supply the Pacific States lavishly for 4 CEN
tury. We have permitted tens of thou
sands of acres of growing trees to be
burned in order that a few thousand head
Of sheep might nave free grazing. We
have permitted the finest timber of the
continent to be stolen and carried away
without 50 much as entering a protest.
The United States has a forestry agent
in this State, but what he does to earn his
salary passes our knowledge. At last ac-
counts, the person filling the Office was a
notary public in a coast city, who knows
about as much of forest destruction and
preservation as the man IN the moon does
Of the ways of a political caucus in Sacra-
mento. From all We can learn. the in
cumbents of the Office have always had
"a soft thing" The State has n Forestry
Commission, and We have done our best to
encourage it, but confess TO considerable
loss Of faith when its executive officer SOL
emnly approves the month Of October as
the lest time in which to plant trees in
California.
The truth Is, we are all vastly and Won
derlully ignorant on the subject of for
estry, as related TO conditions in Califor-
mia. We want light, We need to m
together, TO take testimony and compare
notes, and for that purpose we ought to
form forestry organizations. Placer, Ne
vada, FL Dorado, Piumas, Amador, Sierra,
shasta, indeed each Of the Sierra and
coast mountain counties, should set up for
esiry associations. 1t would not be long
before these societies would have all the
facts at fingers ends. In the valley coun-
ties We should form forestry clubs to re-
ceive the facts collatei by our mountain
friends, and act with them as the need