The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-03-01
PRESERVE THE FORESTS.
Startling Statements Concerning tho de-
crease In Our Timber.


One of tho most important questions
with which our national and state
legislatures have TO deal, and yet ono
that is too generally neglected, is tina.
of the preservation of our forests.
Independent of the fact that they add
to the wealth of tho nation ut the rate
of 500, 600, 900 annually, or ten times
more than the output OF all our gold
and silver mines-which alono ought
to secure for them proper care--thc
significant conclusions reached by sci
entific men, to the effect that they de-
tcrminc, to great extent, the climatic
and the hygienic conditions OF our
country, and regulate the distribution
of moisture and the character OF both
our great and small water ways, Ger
tainly place the preservation OF our
timbered lands among the subjects
that should receive tho carly, constant
and careful consideration Of our legis-
lators.
1t is estimated by experts who have
devoted much time and lhought to the
inquiry that ut least 20 per cent. of
the entire agricultural region OF any
country should remain permanently
in forests. Twenty years ago it was
asserted that the annual clearance of
woodland throughout the United States
amounted to 10000, 900 Of acres, and
that at this rate individual owners
would ultimately be entirely stripped
of their holdings. But ii is not only
the AK that is destructive to forests.
Browsing animals and fires arc quite
lot. AL
agencies must be added the entcrpris,
ing and constituencies railroad con
tractor. who annually destroys 30, 000,-
300 vigorous young trees in his quest
:or ties. Taking these and other enc
mics of our forests into account, il will
be seen that but for the energetic ac-
ton of our national and state govern
ments the terrible calamity of the en-
tire sweeping away of the natural GOV.
ering OF the soil would be among the
possible events of the futurc--a disas-
ter that would, in half century, re-
duce the greater part Of the continent
TO the condition of u desert incapable
of supporting man or beast.
Nor is this mere flight Of tho i'm.
agination. 1t may seem to tho super
fetal observer to verge on the cXtrav-
agant to talk of possible timber fam
inc in country so new as ours, and
one that was so lately reclaimed from
the forest primeval but it is an un-
deniablc fact that VIC arc cutting down
| our trees far more rapidly than VIC arc
planting them, and although our in
heritancc Of timber has been great,
such policy steadfastly adhered to in
the future can lead to but one result.
To bring about a better state of things,
all intelligent public sentiment ought
to be created, and business men and
farmers should BIO informed how in
timately their prosperity is bound up
with tho preservation OF the wooded
land. They should be made to under
stand that by the effect of the forests
on tho water courses the entire naviga.
ton, and much of tho transportation
system of the country is regulated.
Manufacturers ere also largely de-
pendent for the water supply for their
factories and mills on the wisdom that
protects the timber lands where these
streams take their rise and through
which they flow. No profitable mill.
ing could be done where the water
course was torrent during onc-fourth
of tho year and dry bed for the re-
maindcr of the season.
1t is encouraging to note that the
subject is now receiving practical con.
sideration in many localities, and
| especially in this state and in Pennsyl
vania. The report of the New York
forestry commission, presented to the
| legislature, contains many interesting
facts and valuable suggestions; while
tho Agricultural society of Pcnnsyl
vania is actively engaged i'll spreading
the facts before tho people. The cstab
lishment of schools of forestry" in
accordance with tho plan that has
worked SO admirably in Germany, i
earnestly recommended, together with
other measures all tending to further
the end in view. On one point all an
thorities seem agrced-that il is un.
wise to hand the timber resources of a
country over to private parties, leav-
ing them independent of all govern
mcnt control. At one time this state
owned every acre of the Adirondack
region, but this noble domain was
given away with q recklessncss that is
scarcely credible, and what it now
possesses it has gained through tax
sales. while its titles are thus of the
most precarious character, the land
spectators being engaged in a con
slant struggle To procure cancella
ton of the sale. The wholesale pur
chase of forest lands from individual
owners is urged by the commission, &c
remedy this state of things, and &c
prevent the stock of timber in the
state from being too largely depleted
Frank Leslie'9 Newspaper.