The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-25

The Defense of National Property.
Garden aud FonR.
The greatest obstacle in the way Of Of.
fective action for saving the forests on
the nations lands, Is the lack Of a clear
understanding Of the situation and OF
what 1t requires on the part OF the peo.
ple Of this country. The problem Is
specific, limited and particular. The
matter Is not merely topic for leisurely
discussion and contemplation, One OF
the most important possessions OF the
nation is In imminent danger Of extinC-
ton. An exigenCy now demands imme-
date and effective action, and the only
alternative is ruin.
The plan presented in this journal
three weeks ago, and TO which We now
reCur, requires tho immediate withdraw
al from sale OF all public lands in the
mountain forest regions Of the Pacific
and Central States, and the employment
Of the Army ofthe United Suites to pro.
teCt these forests from injury and spOlia-
ton until permanent policy for their
care and preservation can be put In op.
Grafton.
An emergency csnironts us, and the
employment OF the army for this work
Of national defense is n necessity, II
one OF our great seaboard cities were de-
molished by q foreign foe, the loss to the
nation would be far less than that which
would result from the destruction OF the
forests on the lands now belonging to
the nation. Or, II hundreds Of millions
were exaCted as the price OF escape from
bombardment and oblitetatlng flame,
the subtraction from the nations
wealth which this would require would
be trivial compared with the permanent
extinction OF the very springs and
sources OF national wealth and revenue
which would be caused by the destruc-
ton OF these forests.
The overwhelming mud unanswcrable
argument for the adoption Of this plan,
and for the employment Of the Nations
army for the defense Of the Nations
property, Is the fact that 1t Is the only
method which can be made efficient and
successful. 1t Is obvious that so much
timewOuld be required to prepare any
other administrative machinery and put
II in operation, that the forests would be
extinct before the completion OF an
elaborate arrangement for their defense.
But here Is the best available machinery
for the protection OF this invaluable Ma.
tional property ready to our hands in
the thorough organization and intelli.
gent efficiency OF the Army Of the United
gIntna Itg officers aF1 RuDefiOF men,
who have been trained ut The expense
OF the Nation, and they arc already in
It's paid service. There Is not at present
any other service so important as this
in which the army can be employed.
As for the official or Government
work In forestry In this country, nothing
could be attempted that would SO strong.
ly tend to vitallze and popuIarize It, as
the scheme which We have proposed.
Official persons often Justly complain
that they arc not sustained In their
work, as they should be, by public In.
terest and sentiment. There Is no other
way In which intelligent and public
spiriied citizens can 80 efficiently CO.
operate with all that Is vital In the for.
ostry work OF the national Government,
as BY urging the adoption Of the plan We
have pfesented-tlie immediate with.
drawal from sale OF all the public lands
In the mountain forest region OF the
West, and the employment Of the
United States Army 10 guard these for
ests until plan for their permanent ad.
ministratlon has been completed.