The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-06-26
TO SAVE THE TREES.

the preservation Of forest reserves. Ma
poleon declared. In effect, that senti-
ment moves the world. and 1t is unjust
to discredit the forestry reform agita-
ton because Of its sentimental origin.
The bare hint that the sylvan beauties
Of the Yosemite, the Adirondacks and
the AlleRhanies might disappear under
the destructive hand OF vandalism ana
become only q memory was too starting
10 pass UNDECIDED. And II those magnf-
icent forest domains can be set apart as
parks forever BY the will OF the people
other reservations equal in Importance,
II not equal In picturesQueness, may
likewise be reserved
Bills for the rescue Of public forest
lands from spoliation and for the prop
r care OF the reservations already set
mart have thus far failed in congress,
bot the Idea grows in favor the more 1t
y aaitated. and It seems to b only
question OF time. and q very short time
6 that. when law embodying the
main features Of the McRae bill will be
enacted The McRae measure. which
paased the house last June, is plan to
nut the national forest reserves under
REGULATION management and make them
seH Supporting.
The necessity for state action. both
separately and in federation. Is clearly
81 tosth in the report for 1895 OF the
Are warden Of Minnesota.
The report closes with . statement OF
tbs utility Of the forests and argument
Tor their preservation:
The Minnesota forests = great natural
runngvoar ol moisture feeding hundreds OF
o9reama. which fsssiliss the soil and euTn the
= - - - No. (xrNRd m
1nposHan1 Industry and home market for A9ri-
eni1ueoa snppaSeo. The pine forests should also
IS valuahae . health resorts. for IL has been
oonaluslvsly shown By scssntiho observations
49, 1oras1 cir - much richer In osoue than
- ~ ol open countries. The celebrated
ewediah iron Il produced BY charcoal instead
u minssal coal. and II would seem shss the
couversSou at Minnesota orc Into iron BY char
COL should be encouraged by the state rather
taan have - all shipped away In crude condi'
saon. TAia. while creating . new INDUSTRY
Srould furnish = new incentive for perpetuas-
lna the forests. No abatementof the seeminG.
nruthlsss consumption OF pine can At presens
BE- expected. for great companies have their
capital IA embarked In the business and have
built railroads specially for numbering. They
oantot now stop without financial failure. and
re are 20 have permanent forests ~ must d
the stAts or the United States that VIII con-
serve them.
A change Of terms to suit the varied
natural resources Of the several locali-
ties pleased with rich forest lands would
make the Minnesota plea applicable to
nearly every state In the nation In Its
broader aspects the question IL stated IN
. recent number Of Garden and Forest.
An editorial treating upon forest and
nood says:
u - UNPLEASANT to be constantly sounding
alaxms and psedictin1 calAxnities. No GIT q
psophecy - needed 70 foretell the ruin which
viii follow ~ the dovastatiou Of the forests Of
ths Ap0alAchiAn region from Quebec to Ala
bamA 0oss on Tor the next = years - IL ha1
done. And who estimate the desolatiof
which will ensuo IL the foods are let loose fron
the stiu loftier ranges which feed the Coluna
bia the Sacramento and the San Joaquin. o.
who can imagine the extent OF the inland se
that VIII roll over the Mississippi valley whel
the water barriers are removed from the east
ern slopes Of the great continental divide an
the eources OF that immense water system
the central norths Common prudence ough
20 arouse the legislatures Of the various state
and OF the nation 60 face this problem now
~vhsck, 90 NJ more inheritance to the life c