New-York tribune., 1891-05-22
GUARDING THE WESTERN FORESTS.

GUARDING THE WESTERN FORESIS.
One of the most important objects of the Land
Act passed by the last Congress was the preser-
vation of the great forests of the West. This
has been a reform much talked Of, but never
practically promoted. Carl Schurz, when he
presided over the Interior Department, created
vast amount of trouble in all the mineral
producing regions by forbidding the cutting Of
timber except upon those particular spots where
minerals were known 10 exist. This was Mr..
Schun's idea of preserving the forests. 1t was
also Commissioner Sparkss. That extraordinary
person, not satisfied with his crusades against
the agricultural settlers. undertook to suppress
the operations of the miners by denying their
right to cut the trees necessary to timber their
mines. lie adopted the Schurz ruling, and act
ually attempted to execute It, Scores of ar
rests were made. Miners and settlers were
brought from their homes hGndred miles to
court because they had cut down few worth
less pine trees wherewith to build a shack or
tunnel a mine. These proceedings, idiotlc in
their nature, but desperately cruel in their ef-
fects, have put Western people out of all pa
tience with the very phrase Preserve the for
ests." They commonly regard it as the ex-
preston of Eastern sentimentalists, ignorant Of
the real requirements of the arid and mountain
Gus West, under cover of which they have been
and may yet be subjected to many annoyances
and losses.
Nevertheless, these great forests ought to be
preserved. 1t is not only for their value as tim
Der, but in a far greater degree, at least in the
vast arid belt for their value in the retention of
moisture that their protection becomes Nation
al duty. With the mountains stripped of arboreal
vegetation the snowfas could not possibly be
held long enough to keep the rivers high and
active during the irrgating season. Even now
that is done with great difficulty, and so poorly
done as to render the outcry for reservoirs al
most universal from Montana to Texas. II the
waste of the forests becomes much more serious
the farmers of the arid States will be in most
serious condition. The value of every acre Of
this great region, whether titled on the surface
or worked from beneath, bears direct relation
to the extent Of the forest areas.
The last Land Act was by general consent
prominently Western measure. 1t contains
the best judgment on al the land reforms of the
most responsible and well-informed Western
men. The clause under which authority is con-
ferred upon the Interior Department to make
regulations looking to the safety of the forests
expressed the sense of the Rocky Mountain peo-
pie as well as that of Eastern sentimental
ists," and the only thing needed to put it into
that sort of operation which will effectually
secure the great timber-producing areas from
wasteful attack and at the same time leave the
people around them free to use all the wood
they need for domestic and reasonable CONNER
cial purposes has been supplied by Mr.. Carters
appointment as Commissioner of the Land
Office Mr.. Carter understands what the re-
qurements of the people really are. lie also
understands where the valuable forests are and
what should be done to place them under eff
fectua control. lie is proceeding now to the
collection of the necessary specific information
by employing his agents and inspectors in a
careful personal examination of all the impor-
tant timbcr-lands. enabling them to take tho
testimony OF persons interested, SO that ths