Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-21
PROTECTION OF GOVERNMENT TIM
Der LANDS.

LtScNASI6 III IiiIS issue u the hECORD-
Union we present a strong, clear and very
concise digest of one of the most i'm
portant bills ever introduced into Con-
gress, and that is unquestionably the fore
most measure now before that body-the
Hale bill for the correction OF the errors
of the Government in the administration
of our timber lands
1t is very gratifying to know that meas
ures are now proposed, and stand a fair
chance to be enacted into laws, that will
stop the undue denudation of the wooded
slopes and crush out the vandalism that
has ruled supreme in our forests; that viii
rescue the timber lands of the nation
from the schemes of the trespassers upon
these rich regions, and that will institute
such reforms for economic, meteorological
and sanitary reasons as are absolutely es-
sential to the well-being of the valley, as
well as the hill and mountain regions of
the whole country.
That the forestry interest has been neg
lected by the United States Government
is matter of history, and to our shame.
True, there have been spasmodic efforts to
educate the people concerning the economic
val-e of forest conservation, but we have
never taken hold of the subject with
the vigor that the need has demanded.
Compared with action by the Governments
of Europe upon this subject, We have done
practically nothing. Some years ago the
late Franklin Hough was commissioned by
Congress to visit Europe and make a
thorough study of the forestry systems of
the older countries of the Continent His
report, published by Congress in 1877, is
the most valuable contribution to the sub
ject that any Government agency has
given US. 1t stands to-day as the most ex-
haustive treatise extant, and as applicable
to the present situation as to that of
twelve years ago.
Our neglect has been due in large part
to the vastness of our domain and the SEN
timent that there would be time enough
to check forest destruction when We began
to crowd one another. While that period
has not arrived, the conviction of the peo-
pie now is that radical measures must be
adopted for the preservation of eur forests.
This public judgment has been arrived at
through persistent preaching by the press,
on the one hand, and the action of several
of the State Governments in prohibiting
waste Of State timber, and in encouraging
forest culture. In twelve of the States
"Arbor Days" have been established, and
premiums are annually paid from the pub
lie treasury as stimulants 10 tree planting.
In others of the States commissions of in
quiry have been created, to examine the
question of forest destruction and to report
upon needed regulations for the check OF
indiscriminate timber spoliation. New
York, in the preservation of the Adj
rondack forests, has been an important fac
tor in educating the people to the neces-
sity of preserving the wooded slopes from
the vandalism of the woodlands ak and /
the reckless destruction practiced by
sheepherders, stockmen and hunters.
What the Hale bill proposes is to take
cognizance of the forestry question in all
its details. To consider its economic feat
ures; to recognize the sanitary and climatic
effects of indiscriminate denudation of
wooded lands; to :employ the strong arm
of the Government to put a stop to unlaw
full Undertaking and land-elearings that
incapacitate the soil for retaining the rain
fall for the gradual and all-season feeding
of the streams to put on foot such activ-
titles as will prevent the destruction that
results in floods, unnatural erosion of the
slopes, the filling of streams, the raising
of temperature, and the removal of agen-
cies of nature that conserve equability
in climate. The bill goes beyond
these ends in its proposed accomplish
ments, and takes into consideration the
commercial value of the forests and the
probable scarcity of timber if forest-de-
,tuction remains unrestrained. 1t looks
also to an appreciate increase in the value
IF timber lands by reason of closing the
highway to their entry
But the synopsis clearly exposes the
purposes in view. In brief these may be
summed up as follows The taking of all
orests on public lands under the immedi-