Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-13
FOREST PROTECTION.
MEASURES SHOULD Be TAKEN TO
PRESERVE PUBLIC TIMBER.

The determination of Forests win he
Complete Unless Something Is Done
soon---Upon Trees Depend the welfare
and Prosperity OF the Countrywide
People should Take This Matter Up.
Every thinking man knows that the
forests are the protection of the country.
Mountains covered with forests and YER
dure store up water for commerce and
irrigation and charge the air of the val
leys and plains with moisture, while bare
mountains ruin everything below and
near them.
Several governments of Europe have
been for years conserving and caring for
their forests and constantly extending
their area. They find it pays rs bust
ness investment though money making
was not the motive in the measure. The
rulers realized that forests were an alb
solute necessity to the future value OF
the country as a home for the people.
Forests are as necessary as water and
sunlight. They realized that a country
in which forests constituted the orlgi-
nal condition if utterly denuded would
become an uninhabitable desert.
Forestry consists in part of thinning
ont the natural tree growth, saving the
best trees and planting wherever there
is room of the best species adapted to
the climate. Propagating young trees
and their culture before and after plant
ing in forest. Cut the mature timber at
the time and age when it is of the great
est value. Then plant fifty young trees
in the space occupied by the tree cut
and then gradually thin them out as
they become of value and leave one or
two to mature. All rough, steep. stony,
unplowable lands and ravines should be
planted with the most valuable trees
adapted to that section. Prussia and
Russia have many practical and techni-
cal forestry schools in which every
branch of the science is taught. 1t is
found to pay well simply as a business
venture. An immense revenue is de-
rived from otherwise worthless land.
In some instances it has been found
profitable to encroach on lands suited to
other purposes. The benefits accruing
to the adjacent lands, climate and crops
are many.
Anyone posted in forestry knows that
there are few places on this earth so bar
rem that tree of some kind will not
grow. The great Sahara desert could
be changed into forest by proper steps.
CALIFORNIA; Mojave desert could be
made one of the most valuable areas on
this Coast by tree planting. The bleak,
arid, flood producing mountains of
| Southern California. Arizona and Ne
vada could he converted into timber
tracts of inestimable value in themselves.
| The adjacent valleys would be benefited
beyond comprehension. Broad, open,
forest covered valleys may properly be
denuded. Hills and mountains never.
These should be held in sacred trust by
the general or state governments. I'm
plowable land should be planted and
cared for so as not to be ravaged by fire.
All pasturage should be strictly prohib-
tied. The wild animals and fishes should
be protected. New species should be
introduced and kept as an heritage for
future generations.
Look at the redwood-the grandesi
timber tree of the whole earth. Twenty
, five to fifty years hence they will have
> disappeared. The land on which they
l grow is of but little value for any othel
purpose than to grow redwood timber
Redwood is, from its peculiar nature
one of the very easiest of trees in tn,
world to keep up its forest character
and constant renewal. Beyond all othel
trees will it thrive anywhere on thii
continent. And in its own natural hab
itat is of far more value for forest cul
ture than any other known tree. TIL,
government should have made it re
serve at the time of the conquest anC
cared for it as Prussia is now caring fol
her forests. II could have cut and solo
the timber to the people at cost, and ex
tended the forest area. What a heritag,
it would have been. II would be wortl
,, more today than ever before and cen
fury hence it would have been invalu
able. What is it worth TO the whole PEG
pie today? What will the sugar pin,
forests be worth twenty five years hence
The mountains now covered by then
will be a scourge to all the adjacent val
leys. With such facts in view the PEG
pie should rise up and compel congress
to protect at once the one thing upoi
which depends the future welfare of thi
Coast. If congress cannot or will no
, do it the remnants of forests left on pub
lie lands should be turned over to tn
states and then the people most directl,
interested should attend to their prope
preservation and renewal.
ID. b. WIER.