The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-25
Public Forest Lands.

Public Forest Lands.
One OF the most noteworthy recommends
lions in the annual report OF Land COM
missioner CARTER is that a law should be
enacted for the immediate reservation OF all
public forest lands. except for entry under
the homestead and mining statutes.
Eight years ago one OF his predecessors.
Commissions MCFARLAND. urged the tenn
porary withdrawal OF all timber lands from
sale and entry. Tho first reason he gavo
was the need OF preserving the forests at
the headwaters OF important rivers. so as
to insure an cquable und abundant flow OF
water. and to avoid the occurrence OF mum
dattons and droughts produced by telling
tho forests. He also insisted that there
was no good reason why land worth
from S2j to 500 per acre for its TIM
Der should be sold. as it habitually was. for
sl.2j and $3.50 per acre. Hence he advo-
Gated the withdrawal OF all timber lands
for appraiscmcnt. after which he would es-
tablish permanent timber reserves. and
then offer the remaining lands for sale at
their appraised value.
Other proposals OF a similar character
have since been made from time to time.
Thus COMMISSIONS SPARKS recommended
1.-The Immediate withdrawal Of all public
forests from disposal. and Of lands valuable
chiefly for timber. subject to future legisla-
ton for the permanent reservation Of desig-
mated areas. and a more economically gov
erned disposal OF such timber lands as 1t
may not be necessary to reserve indefi-
nitely." 1t will therefore be seen that Com
missioner CARTER has abundant precedent
for his present recommendations. which be-
como tho more important from the added
years OF luwless spoliation. as we'll as OF the
Legitimate reduction OF the wooded area.
Few people who have not studied the
matter are fully aware OF the Importance
Of the woodlands OF the United States to
the prosperity OF the nation. The subject
is perhaps commonly regarded as an inter-
esting speciality rather than as OF funda-
mental consequences: but some enlighten-
ment on this point may perhaps be obtained
through the following extract from a
recent official bulletin:
The total annual product OF wood material OF ali
sorts consumed IN the unitei States may be valued in
round numbers at 81 900. 900. 900. representing. roughly
speaking. 10000 900 cubic fec. Of wood. or tho
annual increase Of the wood growth of SOC. 900, 900
acres OF forest in far condition. This value exceeds
Ten times the value OF our gold and silver output. and
thre. times the annual product OF all our mineral and
coal mines put together. 1t is three times the value OF
our wheat crop"
The capital employed simply in milling
this product Is roughly estimated ut $685.
OO0. 900. and more than 100000 people are
occupied in the direct manufacture OF forest
and sawmill products. exclusive OF re-
manufacture and transportation. The bull
letin already quoted makes this further
effort to give an idea OF tho worth OF the
material that comes from the forest:
III to the value OF our total mining product be
added the vaine of our stone Iuarries and petroleum..
and this sum bs increased by tho estimated value OF
all tho steamboats,. sailing vessels. canal boats. fiat
boats. and bArges plying in American waters. and be-
longing to citisens OF tho United States. it will still be
less than tho value OF tho forest product by a sum
sufficient to purchase at cos. II construction all tho
canals. buy at q par all the stock OF tho telegraph com.
panies. pay their bonded debts. and construct and
equip all tbs telephone lines. The valne of the annual
forest product exceeds the gross income Of all tho
railroad and transportation companies"
1t is evident that legislation on n subject
OF such Importance demands the best judg-
ment and the most studious consideration.
And yet this is only ono side OF tho matter;
for the influence OF the forests on irrigation
and hence on the tilling OF the soil. rs well
rs on the navigability OF the rivers. is also
OF the greatest consequence. Indeed it is
largely this latter consideration which
prompts COMMISSIONS CARTER to his pro-
posal to reserve the forest areas. Mr..
MARSH has shown. In n study OF the sub
ject, how the condition OF parts OF Palestine
and other countries has probably been
altered by the improvldent telling OF for
eats. The retention OF woods on noun
tain sides Is often necess airy for holding the
SHOWS and preventing q too rapid
melting, The spoliation OF woodlands in
some cases means the reduction OF ~cultiva-
BILE areas, the decrease OF navigation. and
q check on the growth OF population. Yet
the enormous demand for forest products
causes these risks OF future damage to be
taken In the interest OF immediate gain:
and the depredations also on public timber
lands are prodigious. For a single example.
the yearly average OF logs passing through
tho Rainy River country is said to be be.
tween Al. 900. 900 and so. 00O. 900 feet. four-fifths
coming from the United States and the rest
from Canada. and two-thirds OF all being
unlawfully cut from Government lands.
The Fifty-first Congress. which repealed
tho Timber Culture law. took an important
step toward r%emedying existing evils by
tho following provision:
THAT tho President Of the United States may from
time to time set apart and reserve In any State or Ter
ritsry having public lands bearing forests. In any parI
Of ths public lands. wholly or In part covered with tim
Der or underground. whether Of commercial value Of
moi. as public reservation. and the President shall. By
proper proclamation. declare the establishment Of such
reservation and the limits thereof"
Under this law important reservations o.