New-York tribune., 1890-01-04
FROM THE MAIL.
MINERS AND THE FORESTS.
SENATOR rrLLrns BILL CRITICISED AS DAN

SENATOR TELLEE's BILL CRITICISED AS DAN
GERoUs TO FOREST INTERESTS.
TO the LdttOr OF The TrtbUne.
Sir; For several years patient individual but un-
organized effort has been put forth to supplement and
emphasize The Tbune's oft repeated warnings relative
TO the neglect Of the public timber domain. This
desultory movement has finally crystallIzed in con.
cered attack all along the line. The American A.
socatOn for the Advancement Of science had taken up
the cudgcls Al their Toronto meeting. The American
Forestry Association making a gallant and self
sacrificing contest. while state Boards COmmis
soncrs Of Forestry and local organizations in number
were pouring In their protests petitions or memorials
without stint The President. with his ready. keen
perceptions, did not fail to grasp the magnitude and
importance Of the subject at issue. and volunteered to
make the matter for a special message TO Con
grcss and with the unanimous friendly support OF
the press and the best intelligence of the country IN
hearty accord with them there seemed to be reasonable
ground, for believing that Congress would yhd TO
tle pre-, ure and not fail to provide for the main
enance preservation and development Of the forests,
one OF the leading factors Of our National wealth
Whatever OF progress has been made In this dtrec-
ton has been temporarily stayed and the very life OF
ref0rmatory endangered by the Introduction
senator Tcllcrs bill i'm the Interest Of quartz mining
corporations providing that ia Colorado and the Terri
tories mining companies may unrc-tnincd despoil tic
public timber land, 10 their hearts content II is nos
the purpose Of i, article To- as-al to crticisc tho
general ethics of this blll. although am at loss
10 conjecture why the propo-cd sift of free timber
10 these corporations slould not have been cOmprc-
hc-iNc enough to include standard dollars. postage,
lrccubacl- or any other acceptable commodity Of
which, il the Federal Government has not great
-uIpu, a- OF timber il al least b., the fldlte, at
command 10 create one more cNpcditOu,ly than the
latter; and u any event the measure of the gift Of
thc former articles would be- morr accurately dsccr
taincd than m the of tiS III disguised raid upon
our public resources. THE existing law, under which
these corporations cam acquire timber Ly
purchase, Is bad; with the only say
ing clause that presumably minimum
of waste will occur when timber has been paid for.
No such ASSURANCE. but the direct contrary, can be
anticipated in the present case, and free timber Will
hc'ome bat -ynoymc for free pillagc of our forests
senator Teller, bin ever bccOmc, law.
All Of the associations above named harmoni0usF
concur in couccduI that one Of the most dangerous
fcatlIo, results attendant upon present lack of
forest administration lies in the ease with which the
public timber hand De iHaI~crmlnately acquired
inquiry th. important fact whether such lands do,
or do not constitute integral part Of some water
system upon the pcrpctuty Of which may depend
tc MINING, agriculture or commerce OF vast section
Of country. and from dcflrc- tatOu Of which. must
inevitably result disastrous floods wet seasons and
urdu" and daugerph, water slulERagc III times OF
drouth.
It is 10 be earnestly hoped that the t;cat state Of
Colorado VIII not The sake of ter porary pccuniary
"n record h~ taking practically ho-ilc attitude upon
question upon which the brightest and most pracu
cal business unite wi'h the best scientific talent
81 The country in declaring II TO hc matter OF too
much moment bc degraded 10 the level of class
partisan l.g- -ldpu. and upon which the present and
pro-p"ctiv' prosperity Of The ThoG coIntry Is so
greatly dependent WILLIAM :. LYON,
state Forester Tor california.
10, Anecc,. CAL. De-. -. l--J.