The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-27
PRESERVE The FORESTS.
Startling Statements Concerning the De
- ease Ia Oar Timber.

One Of the most important questions
with which our national and state
legislatures have TO deal, and yet one
that is too generally neglected, IS that
of the preservation Of Cur forests.
Independent Of the fact that they add
to the wealth Of the nation al the rate
Of 500, 600, 600 annually, or ten times
more than the output OF oil our gold
and silver mincs-which alone ought
20 secure for them proper care-the
significant conclusions reached by sci
entific men, to the effect that they de-
termine, 10 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 tho subjects
that should receive the early, constant
and careful consideration of our legIs-
latOrs.
1t is estimated by experts who have
devoted much time and thought to the
inquiry that at 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 lO,00O,O0 of acres, and
that at this rate individual owners
would ultimately be entirely stripped
of their holdings. But it is not only
the ak that is destructive to forests
Browsing animals and fires are quite
as detrimental. To these injurious
agencies must be added the enterpris-
ing and conscienceless railroad con
tractor who annually destroys 80, 900,
900 vigorous young trees III his quest
for ties. Taking these and other enc
mics of our forests into account, IT Will
be seen that but for the energetic ac-
ton Of our national and state govern
ments the terrible calamity OF tho en-
tire sweeping away of the natural COW
ering of the soil would be among the
possible events Of the futme-a disas-
ter that would, in half a century, re-
duce the greater part Of the continent
to the condition of q desert incapable
of supporting man or beast
Nor is this mere flight of the i'm
agination 1t may seem 10 the super
fetal observer TO verge on the eXtray-
agant 10 talk Of a possible timber fam
inc III a country so new as ours, and
one that was 50 lately reclaimed from
the forest pfimeval;' but it j. an un-
dcniable fact that We are cutting down
our trees far more fapidly than we are
planting them, and although our in
heritance Of timber has been great,
such a policy steadfastly adhered 10 in
the future can lead TO but one result.
To bring about a better state Of things,
an intelligent public sentiment ought
to be created. and business men and
farmers should be informed how in.
timately their prosperity is bound up
with the preservation Of the wooded
land They ahould be made TO under
stand that by the effect Of the forests
on the water courses the entire naviga-
ton, and much of the transportation,
system Of the country Is regulated.
Manufacturers are 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 tho water
course was a torrentduring one-fourth
of the year and a dry bed for the re-
mainder of the season.
II is encouraging to note that the
subject is now receiving practical con
sideration in many localities, and
especially in this state and in Pennsyl-
yania. The report of the New York
forestry commission, presented to the
legislature, contains many interesting
facts and valuable suggestions; while
the Agricultural society of Pennsyl-
vania is actively engaged in spreading
the facts before the people The estab-
lishment of schools of forestry" in
accordance with the plan that has
worked so admirably in Germany. IS
earnestly recommended, together with
other measures ell tending 10 further
the end in, view. On one point all au-
thorities Seem agreed-that it is un-
wise to hand the timber resources of a
country over TO private parties, leav-
ing them Independent Of all govern
ment control. At one time this state
owned every acre Of the Adirondack
region, but this noble domain was
given away with a rpcklessness 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 10 procure u cancella-
ton of the sale. The wholesale pur-
chase of forest lands from individual
owners is urged by the commission, TO
remedy this state of things, and to
prevent the stock of timber IN the
state from being TOO largely depleted.
Frank Leslie's Newspaper.