Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-11-20

| WAbu ooodnlouuAiy EillIsb VI
pine standing in blackened loneli-
ness. Many causes have combined
to produce this result, and while AT
one time there may have been a
feigned motive, evil no doubt, such
as firing the woods TO conceal de-
predations, or protect bark peeled,
or some other doubtful reason, yet
at this time none can possibly exist.
There is nothing to burn, and no
earthly excuse for burning it, yet
the same annual fires occur wherever
there is sufficient accumulation of
leaves or weeds to feed them. Had
there been moderate care exercised,
or could the fires be kept out for n
few years our county would present
vastly different appearance, both
TO the eye and to the desire of the
settler and the lumberman. The
humus is actually burned Off, and
even with the best efforts man and
nature in conjunction could put
forth, many years would elapse be-
fore the forests or a tithe of the
original fertility could be regained.
The people of the State are
awakening under the persistent
teachings of men who fully realize
the state of the matter, and are be-
coming aroused to the necessity of
some action to restore and preserve
the wealth of timber of which the
hills have been denuded. To do
this will require vigorous measures
and our Legislature at its coming
session should provide them. In
1898 a temporary commission was
authorized to investigate the subject
but the succeeding session refused
to carry out the recommendations
as to forestry legislation, but did
provide for u continuation of the
work by creating a Forestry COM
missioner, and Governor Hastings
appointed DR.. Rothrock to the posi-
ton. His report eloquently de-
picts the waste caused by want of
State protection of our forests and
shows how the forests have been
destroyed by lumbermen and that
too without the slightest regard or
apparent care for the succeeding
growth, and how this ruthless des-
truction has been reinforced by the
fires carelessly or wantonly started
and wilfully allowed TO burn. The
hillsides robbed of protection have
been torn, washed and quilted. The
streams have disappeared or become
insignificant threads of water at the
dry season and torrents of soil in the
rainy. Our own county furnishes
the most practical and startling ovi-
dence Of these facts, and men yet
young can recall magnificent forests
of pine, hemlock and hard wood
which have now disappeared with
nothing but tangled briers, black
ened stumps, and bed of stones in
their places. Acres Of land now
under so called cultivation would be
far more profitable to their owners
If covered with a good growth of
oak and chestnut. It would pay to
plant them out with trees. This
generation might not reap the re-
ward, but the next would in ten fold
measure. 1t is hoped that the COM
ing legislature has learned the les
son and will provide some means by
which the deforestation may be
checked, and that great adjunct to-
the wealth of any state, timber, may
be protected and its increase proper
ly stimulated. The report deals
largely with the question of what
forest trees can be profitably raised
in the state and the best means to
make them grow. There are forty
seven photographs which tell
truthful tale and they are used to
illustrate the text. The report is
written in clear and easily com.
pretended style, and treats the sub
ject in an interesting and exhaustive
manner. 1t should be widely cir
culated among and read by the peo-
Pile.
PLEASE GIVE US A REST.
Mr.. Bryan apparently not satisfied