New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
is as shrewd Mcpherson was and more OF
a diplomat, while McDermott has all the dash
and vigor for which Albeit was noted.
EOREST DESTRUCTION.

The fall season of forest fires may now De
said to be fully open. 1t may not yet have
reached its height. There is reason 10 rear II
has not. But it is already proving one VI the
most destructive If recent years. Conflagrl-
tons are raging in various parts of the coun-
try on private and lublic domains Vast
tracts of woodland are being not merely de
stroyed. but so destroyed a. to render their
restoration for many years TO come lmpos>l-
be- The loss of timber. reckoned in money
value is enormous Farm crops and buildings
and live stock are also being destroyed and
there have been some losses of human lives.
These latter disasters are TO he considered
under ordinary rules. the simple law Oh sell
preservation moves men 10 guard against 'hem
as fully as possible But the first mentioned,
the ravagng of forest areas, demands some
special attention and special preventive actloh-
For years the rapid disappearance OF Amerl-
can forests has been matter OF serious ron
Germ. The enormou, growth Of certain lnn'
ber-lIsing industries has contributed 10 II. 80
have recklessncss and waste in cutting tmbe".
And SO. 10 an appalling extent, nave forest
fires. the last-namcd being obviously the most
mischicvous and perhaps the most extensive
of all 1t has been seriously estimated lhal rs
much timber Is wasted rs is utilized; and III
some years at least the amount burned ms
been great rs both those classes pun together.
TO the legitimate use of timber there can p'
no objection. But all the othcr and illegiflina'c
causes which are destroying The forests Ut"
10 be- objected to. and can largely he lreven''h.
With thcfts Of timber from the public DOMAIN
with the improper grlntng or abuse of per
mits 10 cut il there and with waStefui mc'l-
cd, of cutting it. the Government unlues'ioha-
bly, may and should deal vigorously.
But above ali this rises the question OF fore'i
fires. with when. Oh public or private land.
the Government is assurcdly competent I"
deal II l. notorious that many such fires. and
many of the most destructive Of them, have
been started either deliberately or through
carcIcssness that must he accounted criminal
some are started by settlers who deem them
an easy method of clearing the land: some 'y
hunters and other campers oui, wantoiiy or
.arelcssy: some 10y railroads. with sparks from
engines. In III" vast majority Of eases no one
is ever brought Ia book. Yet few INSIDE
mcanors or fcloni * are more worthy OF severe
punishment That many Of the hres can d.
Prevented altogether and manyothcrs checked
and that by few sharp examples all whom
il may concern may be warned against anu IT,
strained from starting fires either want MY or
caree,sy l. perfectly evident An extensive
system of forest police, 81 wardenN. VIII 90 the
work here. as In other countries or cours''
such ii system would be expensive. But II =
we'll within bounds - say that II would saw"
10 the Nation every year in money value II
timber preserved from theft. waste or hhrn'il-'
ten times lis cost.