New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09

The story of the degradation and destruction
of the Adirondack forests must be told once
more II has been repeal ed so often that doubt
less ON many minds it now produces only the
monotonouS effect Of
a l,mcnta,l,n and an ancient tale Of wrong.
artc -, tale - little meaning tho the words are
strong:
and vet no single interest OF the people or any
of the Legislature is more important than the
prcscrvation Of this still noble and henehcent
elf, OF Nature The folly and rapacity OF man
have ayailcd 10 infict injuries which, If not
absolutely incparablc can be repaired only
by the slow processes Of time. and meyer before
were the implements and agcncie, OF de>truc-
ton so numerous and so active a they now
are. The latest appeal from this work OF de-
yastat.on ~ the intelligence OF the people j.
mad by a number OF eminent physicians, whose
practice has impressed upon them the direct
sanitary importance Of the North Woods Their
indirect value to health and 10 commerce
through their relations - the wat"r-courS"' OF
the STATE has been the subject OF investigation
and debate for wears past. The point 81 view
adoptcd hy Dr. Loomi, and his colleagues has
not been urged 50 often. They deserve the
thanks of the people. ~ does every one who
makes an honest and intelligent plea in behalf
Of tho Adiiondack> Their argument IS that
this region is n natural sautanum- that II has
no accessible couutcrpaIts. that ono quarter oi
all the cq>,s of incipicnt consumption subjected
~ il, climatic influence may bee and. under
propcr conditions are. in fact cured thereby
that the WORT, of destruction i going on win
constantly increasing force and effect, aud that
go. an d
d..
The fact, Of the case AZ" nOWhcr" disputed
50 far a. we know. except n the most dl,n-
rcnuou, manner by those who are immediately
concerned in couccaIine them. The Forestry
Commission reported ~" truth I'D m" Legs
la,uro a year ago. and recommended a simple
and effective measure Of preservation which
wa, utterly ignored puung the year that has
clap,ed additional iuiurc, OF immoasurh!c OK
tent have been ACCOMPLISHED by lumber com
panic, and railroads. and .'Il moro extended
operations ha1" hccu planned for the coming
summer The CYmml.>iuo.ci- have renewed
their effort, ~ thl- session 10 procuI" tho
rasSagc o. Am aDt authorizing them TO purchase
such forest lands %, they can buy for - 90 an
acrc-a measure which unmiS'Ikably conceal,
no job and which is a practicable start IN the
RIGHT direction This plan Of salvation was
defeated last yc,- by the hostility Of the repro
sentative, of the lumber counties. whose con
,titucnt, are blinded by the present influx and
circulation OF capital 10 the inevitable conSc-
qucncc, OF reckless policy This hostility
would not have been effective, however cN-
cept for the stubborn indifference Of legs-
latorS representing other parts Of the state
These men have hitherto failed to sec their
duty and their immediate and pressing inter
c,t. but yc' il is 10 them only that appeal can
be made with any reasonable hope OF success
The principal agencies by which the per
pctual use and enjoyment of the AdirondackS
are bcing diverted from the whole people 10
the temporary advantage Of individuals arc, As
we have said. the numbering industry and the
railroads and not only their interests, but
their owners are largely Identical IL il an
enormously strong and an absolutely selfish
combination. II carries with it everywhere a
comprehensive system Of deyastation-by tho
axe. by fire. by the damming and diversion Of
watcI-couIsc>. and by general transformation
| of conditions. =, that what was pure and lovely
and hcalthful becomes foul and ugly and
| malarous. and every natural blessing is con
| vcrtcd into a curse. il is nothing less than q
dreadful calamity that Commonwealth pos
scSSng such a wonderful endowment and treas
ure should have permitted it 10 be squandcred
without pity or rcmorsc and should still be
! blind to It's own responsibility for such a mScr
able waste The day will certainly come when
this folly and sin will appear in its true light
and proportions. There is great danger that
it will come too late.