The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-27
1.-THE FORESTRY QUESTION.

A gentleman employed in the Division
Of Forestry of the Department of Agri-
culture at Washington is now on this
coast and is reported as saying that at
Washington it is understood that the
Bureau of Forestry proposes soon to
send agents to California to make thor
ough examination of our forests. and to
inquire into means for their preservation.
This visitor, Dr.. Allen Goshen, is re-
ported to have said:
The timber industry is stripping our coun-
try OF It's magnificent forests. Michigan and
Wisconsin are becoming barren and the
southern forests are melting away. There is
every evidence that the reckless spirit of
commerclaIism and forest destruction will
soon sweep your section like q cyclone. Your
Pacific Coast timber cutting is to-day OF the
most WaSteful character. You are so lar from
the commercial centers of the crowded East
that you can afford to ship nothing but the
finest timbers or lumber, and as result only
about 90 per cent of what you cut is used.
Ihere Is greater waste from fires in your
woods than in the East, for your forests are SO
heaVy and so far from towns that your work
men cannot stop forest fires by whit is known
as in-cutting.
There is much talk about gold and silver
dustry yields more money every year than
all the mines i'll America? The lumber bust
ness OF the United States amounts to more
than billion dollars @ year and am ont here
TO see whether there is disposition among
lumber men TO aid the bureau in its efforts to
save timber. We want Congressional law
TO allow The Secretary of the Interior to sell
certain timber and see that it is cut ration
ally. AT present ii is almost Impossible to
convict timber thieves. There are nearly
100000 acres OF timber land that need more
-
give to them.
The McRae bill. which was passed at the
last session OF Congress, provides for the pa
trolling OF most of the Is, 100000 acres over
which Government timber is scattered by
soldiers OF the regular army, who may be
called upon by the Secretary of the Interior
by proper supervision and rational cutting
we could nave new crop of timber each year
instead OF having II go to waste. l think the
bill one of the most important ever passed
Its influence on the coast will be far reaching.
Perhaps the earliest journalistic advo-
cate of active measures in the interest of
preservation of our forests was the REC
oRD-UNIoN. Many years ago it made
the subject q special study and became
convinced that the denudation of our
mountain slopes had greater than COM
mercial interest for our people. The
effect upon the climate of the valleys,
upon the feeding Of the rivers, and there
fore upon the whole scheme of land Guilt
walton and control of waterways was
thoroughly exploited by this paper at an
early day. and measures suggested and
advocated for the prevention of what WAS
seen to be an impending evil.
Something remedial was done. but
compared with the Importance of the
threatened interest comparatively little
has been accomplished. It is true that to
considerable extent the soil of the Cali
fornia mountain slopes has been pro-
tected by new growth, which, if I'M
molested, would by this time have at
| tanned q considerable growth. But it has
been all along known that the destruc-
ton of our timber by the ak, fire and the
| ranging of stock has been most serious
injury. Perhaps more damage is charge
able to the devastations of sheep herds
and stock men than to any other cause.
1t is very gratifying to learn that the
Federal Government is thoroughly awake
to the great importance of forest preserva-
ton. The RECORD UNION has at no time
ceased to present the matter to the people
and to point out the grave necessity for
wise legislation and diligent and aggres-
sive action in this matter. We do not
wish to even contemplate the situation
here that existed in Europe. and that cost
the people of the nations of that hemi-
sphere 30 much. The cost to the German
States in money and suffering of the peo-
pie because of forest destruction Is al
most incalculsble. It led finally to q
treaty and compact between them and
Italy and Switzerland for the perpetual
and inviolable preservation of the pro-
tecting timber growth of the watershed
of the Rhine and other streams.
For years the European Governments
have been expanding vast sums in the
restoration of timber and the preserva-
ton of remaining growth. Forestry In
the old world is study that is made a
part Of public education. Forestry
schools are very numerous throughout
Europe, and receive the fostering care of
all the Governments. We are unaware
that there Ia q single one in the United
States. As rule Americans are not well
informed upon the subject. We have
been too busily engaged in conquering
and dismantling our forests to think
much about their exhaustion. Many
years ago the Federal Government sent
the late Mr.. Franklin Hough to Europe to
make study of forestry in its interests
His report. made, we believe. in 1877. is
one of the most interesting and valuable
public documents ever sent from any
Government press, and will furnish in
teresting and instructive reading to any
citizon.
A LAW has passed the Massachusetts
Legislature requiring manual training to