The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-15


labors.
"The Legislature should exempt from
taxation for a number of years all these
old fields that are planted in trees, and 500
worth of property should also be exempt
ed for every mile OF shade or fruit trees
planted along the highways, A law to
this effect has been in operation in some
States OF the Union with the best results.
by adopting this line Of policy the taxable
property in the State would be increased
III the next ten or twelve years
many millions of dollars. The wealth
OF q State depends primarily
upon its soil and its timber, and II is the
solemn duty of the law makers to look be-
yond the present, and to enact such laws
and TO dictate such a policy rs will, in the
end, conduce TO the wealth, greatness and
glory OF the State, and in no way can this
be more etlectually done than by taking
| steps Tor the reclamation OF the soil and
the preservation OF the timber. Had this
been done twenty years ago, Tennessee
would not be dotted all over with repul-
slve and haggard old fields that constitute
the sham and mark the shif,essness OF
her farmers. A new departure is called
for in this particular and he who shall be
instrumental in restoring the lost fertility
OF those worn places aud making them
things OF beauty and profit, may well be
numbered among the bcnelactors OF the
State.
'The press in the various parts OF the
State should take up the subject, discuss il
in detail, encourage the enactment OF such
q law, and press the matter before the PEG.
pie until pride, TASTE interest, ambition
and an enlightened public sentiment shall
all unite in building up these waste places.
Enough OF such spots there are il reclaimed
TO build a railroad through every county
in the State.
more is involved in this question than
mere money. The very existence OF the
human race is jeopardized by this neglect
Happiness, contentment, progress, refine
ment and the civilization OF humanity de-
pend, IN measure, upon the preservation
Of our forests"
now TO PRODUCE INCOMES.
have spoken to you Of the woodlands
so lar only rs bearing useful crop, which
can be managed 80 as 10 produce an en-
larged income. This way OF looking at
the forest as n furnisher OF material is the
one that Is most natural, because every
child knows that wood is one OF the neces-
sites OF life, that there is hardly any
manufacture, any branch OF human indus
try in which wood does not find applica-
ton in some way or other. have spoken
10 you of the direct money value OF the
crop, because | suppose you, like most
men, find the interest OF their pocket the
most interesting. But, ~ tho last words
Of my quotation from Mr. Killcbrcw indi.
cate there il more involved in this ques-
nj Il
more involved in the maintenance and
management Of forest lands than mere
supply Of needful material. Happiness,
content, progress, refinement aud the
| civilization OF humanity depend in
measure upon the preservation OF
our forest" II you want 10 understand
and see verified this statement, You must
look TO the older countries, where cen
| turtles ago the same foolish reckless waste
Of forest growth has been perpetrated that
we carry ON in our country, aud where in
consequence OF the immodeate cutting
away and deteriorating Of the natural
woods the soil was impoverished and the
| climate made uniavomblc 10 such an eN-
tent that within the last $50 wears the
population of the four Mediterranean
| pcninsulas has decreased more than 3d.
600, 600 and the value OF their agricultural
products by nj least 65 per cent. Palcs.
| tine, once flowing with milk and honey;
Persia, once the garden spot Of the earth;
Asia Minor, Greece, parts Of Italy and
| Spain aud northern Africa, all regions
which were once celebrated for agriculture,
commerce, abundant forests and high civ
| ilization. are now among the most barren,
sterile, trcelcss portions Of the globe and
the population least progressive and de-
graded; abodcs OF perennial drought, hun
ger and Indebtedness or absolute sand
wastes. Man there, like he does here, has
fought blindly against his own ultimate
interests. His contest successful for the
moment has led there and will lead here
10 sure and sad disaster.
WHAT TIMBER SACRIFICE LEADS TO.
Stripping forests from hill and mountain,
| he has gained his immediate object IN the
possession Of their abundant stores Of tim
Der, but at the same time he has laid open
the slope 81 he burned by drought or TO be
swept bare by rain. lie has disturbed the
equilibrium OF climate. the even distri-
button Of waterfowl. So fatal has been the
consequence OF dciOrcstation In those
older lands. that M George T.. Marsh, an
eminent writer, says 'lf the countries
which men have ruined could be restored,
the thronging millions OF Europe might
still find room on the eastern continent
and the main current OF emigration turned
toward the rising instead OF the setting
sum- for, there are parts Of Asia Minor,
northern Africa, Of Greece, and even Al
pine Europe, where the operation Of man
has brought the face Of the earth 10 a desc.
lation almost NJ complete ~ that Of the
moon; and though within that brief space
OF time which We call the historical period.
they have been known 10 have been COW
cred with luxurant woods, verdant past
urcs, aud fertile meadows They are now
too far decorated 10 be reclaimablc by
man, nor can they become again III for
human usc."
And In France In modern times, where
the people had with the same sh,tsight-
cdnoss cut away their own" forests, In
the ten years from 1912 10 1852 the depart.
ments or counties OF the lower Alps alone
lost Oh 900 acres Of arabic land, which had
been washed away and rendered worthless
for cultivation by torrents caused by cut
ting OF the mountain forests, and In the
i've years from 1851 20 1885, the depart
nenta OF the French Alps lost from the
same cause 10000 inhabitants, who, i'm.
poyerishcd, had 10 cmigrate.
And that the damage was due 20 the
reckless clcaringoi the mountains has been
amply proved by the fact that with an cx.
pcnditure Of S30,0O0,0O0 within the last
twenty-five years, with which $50, 900 acres
Of mountain land have been rcplanted, the
torrents have been stopped. the land has
been recuperated and agriculture made