Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-28
The undisputed fact that forests serve a use


ful purpose in storing the ice and SHOWS of win
ter IN mountainous regions, and causing their
gradual distribution in the form of dry sea-
sons water supply, as distinguished from the
formation Of destructive torrents with the first
thaws OF spring, is enough to commend the
protection Of our American woodlands to every
citizen who has the best interests of the farm
ing community at heart. 1t is also becoming
daily more evident that fortune awaits the
children or grandchildren of the man who, in
our era. turns his barren land to account
by letting it run to wood But the ack-
nowlsdged usefulness of forests has led many
to believe, without questioning, that their
growth causes an increase o. rainfall. On this
point however, the best trained scientists diff
fer. DR.. Fernow, the chief Of the forestry
division of the Department Of Agriculture,
lately eollated the evidence in affirmation of the
theory, in Europe and America, but has ex-
pressed himself as dissatisfied with the incom-
pleteness Of the data forthcoming Mr.. GAN
nett, the geographer of the geological survey,
fatty contradicts it by producing statistics Of
observations within a very limited area which,
as far as they go, seem to prove a negative.
The scientific investigation of this subject will
always be hampered somewhat by the influence
of local prejudice and selfish interest The
great landowners of Europe, who are more
anxious for the preservation of game, as food
for the chase, than for the special welfare Of
their farmer tenants, urge the maintenance of
forests on the ground that it promotes rainfall,
which is the only hope Of successful agricul-
ture; while the lumber barons of our own
western country excuse their ruthless acts of
denudation by the plea that they are opening
the country to cultivation, and thereby benefit
ing the race. To reconcile two such abso-
lutely opposite positions on this ques-
ton II q task no adventurous meteorol-
ogist has yet attempted. The scientific thought
Of Europe has commonly sided with the land
holders there, while its advanced counterpart
in this country appears to be supporting the
lumbermen. The layman, whose knowledge of
science is limited to what he picks up from
popular ESSAYS, is at loss what to believe. and
will probably have to content himself for many
years to come with the assurance that trees are
30 valuable for other considerations than that
now in dispute, as to warrant the preservation
Of the forests which nature has planted on the
mountain sides, even if we do not go to the ex-
treme of artificial propagation on the plains.
To Us who live further north, where copper
coin has been in general use as far back as the
memory OF man extends, it seems strange to
read of the adoption of the penny system" on
southern railroads.&c. requirement that
passenger shall pay, for example, &c cents for
his ticket, when that is the price Of it, instead
of Is, as he has been in the habit of doing. If
he has not the extra cent in his pocket, the
agent will take thirty from him and give him
back four, instead Of fve-cent nickel piece.
The experience of this country has certainly
not confirmed the sweeping generalization
that the prosperity of a community can be
measured by the size of its smallest coin.
Since the civil war. until within the last few
years, the south cannot lay claim to a greater
prosperity than the north. Its people have
complained of their poverty, and made it an
excuse for not meeting their public obligations
more readily; and yet the northern people have
at all times made use of one and two cent coins
in their business transactions. while in the
south nothing short of the nickel has been con-
sidered worthy Of general circulation, and the
first cheap daily newspaper in st. Louis had to
send to the treasury direct for copper coins
enough to furnish its newsboys means for
making change.
Another prevalent fallacy on this head is
that the absence Of small coins from circula-
ton is sign of high prices in ordinary COM
modities. No one who has visited San Fran
cisco, where the copper cent has not yet fairly
got foot-hold, needs to be told that it is, from
the point Of view of domestic necessaries. a
paradise for poor people. The cost of bread,
meat, fish, fruit, and other staple provender is
so small as to seem almost ridiculous to one
who has long been accustomed to eastern prices;
yet it is impossible to get cents worth of any,
thing. The schoolboy who, with us, buys a
penny apple for his luncheon, must there get
five cents worth of fruit or not any. But his
five cents will buy him a wooden plate. or a
paper bag loaded to overlooking with grapes.
pears, plums, and peaches in their season, or
more oranges than he can stuff into his pockets
Nothing is sold in the petty quantities familiar
to our small housekeepers. They must give
five cents, ten cents or quarter for anything;
but the difference in outlay is made up in the
quantity which is given to them for their money.
1t is hard to say just what the introduction of
the penny system" means in the South. unless
it be that the railroad companies of that sec
ton have come to the conclusion that it is time
to put income and expenses into a more init
mate relation with each other. 1t is a good
sign, at any rate. The copper cent is the SYM
Dol OF thrift; and the corporation or community
which looks after its cents the most carefully
Viii have-other things being equal-the
greatest number of them to look after.
Gen. Harrison is said to view the large
msnagerie which his admirers have bestowed
upon him with pride that is modified by a
certain uneasiness. As the menagerie expands
this uneasiness shows indications of deyelop-