Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-01-11
Protection Of Government Timber Hand.

Union we present a strong, clear and
very concise digest Of one Of the most
important bills ever introduced into con
gress, and that IL unquestionably the
foremost measure now before that body
the Hale bin fer the correction Of
errors Of the Government in the admin
istration Of our timber lands,
1t is very gratifying 10 know that
measures are now proposed, end stand
fair chance to be enacted into laws, that
VIII stop The undue denudation Of tho
wooded slopes and crush out the yandai-
ism that has ruled supreme in oar forests;
that win rescue the timber lands Of tins
nation from the schemes Of The traspaaa-
era upon the e rich regions, and 5hat VIII
institute such reforms for economic, met
geological and sanitary reasons as are
absolutely essential to the vell-beinS OF
the valley, as well az tho hill and noun
tain regions Of The whole country.
That the forestry interest has been
neglected by the United States govern
ment is a matter of history, and to our
shane. True, tAero have been spasmodio
efforts to educate she people concerning
the economic value Of forest conservation,
but we have never taken hold Of the sub
ieot with visor that the need has de-
mande1. Compared With action BY the
goyernmsntof 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 o.
the forestry systems Of the older coun-
tries Of the continent. His report. pub
Eshed BY Congress in 1877, is the most
valuable contribution to the subject that
any government agency has given Us
It stands to-day as the most exhaustive
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 sentiment that thoro would be time
enough to cheek forest destruction when
We began T. cro9d one saoitllis.e Will
| thai period haasalot agriyeSs The
conviction o. the reopie no# Il tt95at rstll
icaI measures must be adopted for tho
preservation Of our forests. This public
| judgement has been arrived at through
persistent preaching by the press, OF
the one hand. and the action OF several
Of the state go7ernments in prohibiting
waste Of state timber, and encouraging
forest culture. In twelve Of these states
"arbor days" have bean established, and
premiums annually paid from the public
treasury as stimulants 10 tree planting
In others Of the states commissions Of
inquiry have been created, to examine
the question of forest destruction and tc
report upon needed regulations for tbs
check Of indiscriminata timber spoliation
New York, in the preservation OF til.
Adirondack forests, hasz5een an import.
ant factor in educating hepaople TO tho
necessity OF preserving the wooded slopes
from the vandalism Of the woodman's az
and the reckless destruction practice
| by sheepherdera, stookmen and hunters
What the Hale bin proposes IS to take
Ioognizanco Of the forestry question il
all its details. 10 consider its economic
features; to recognize the sanitary and
climatic effects Of iudi5criminate denu-
dation Of wooded lands; to employ The
strong arm OF the government to put 4
stop to unlawful understanding and land
clearings that ineapacitato the soil for
retaining the rainfall for the gradual and
aI-season feeding Of the streams; to put
on foot such activities as VIII prevent
tho destruction that results in floods,
unnatural erosion Of tie slopes, the fill
ing Of streams, the raising Of temper
allure, and the removal OF agencies OF
nature that conserve equality in eli
mate. The bill goes beyond these ends
in its proposed accomplishments, and
takes into consideration the commercial
value OF the forests and the probable
scarcity Of timber if gorest-destruction
remains nnrestrained- 1t looks also to
an approciabla increase in the value of
timber lands by reason Of closing the
highway 10 their entry.
But the synopsis clearly exposes the
/ purposes in view. In brief these may
be summed up as follows: Tho taking
Of all forests on public lands under the
immediate protection Of the federal gov
ernment, through the agency Of a com
mission The withdrawal Of all such
lands from sale and entry, and their
commitment to the commission which is
to manage and control them and advise
the government concerning their pres
crvatio2 and the disposal Of such as 1t
may be deemed wise to sell. Timber
lands are So be divided into three classes.
those having timber ~ .,z,..;.,l --,I-,