Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-05-13
TO SAVE THE TREES.

Sentiment - pure sentiment-it is
true, inspired the first effort to insure
the preservation of forest reserves Ma
poleon declared in effect, that senti-
ment moves the world and it is unjust
to discredit the forestry reform agita-
tiou because of its sentimental origin.
The bare hint that the sylvan beauties
of the Yosemite, the Adirondacks and
the AllcghanieS might disappear under
the destructive hand of vandalism and
become only memory was too startling
to pass UNDECIDED. And If those magnlt-
icent forest domains ca. be set apart as
parks forever by the Will Of the people
other reservations equal i'll Importance,
if not equal in pictureSqueness, may
likewise he reserved.
Bills for the rescue Of public forest
lands from spohation and for the prop
er care of the reservations already set
apart have thus far failed i'll congress
but the idea grows i'll favor the more II
j. aSltated. and it seems to + only a
question of time, and very short time
at that. when law embodyinS the
main features of the McRae bill viii be
enacted. The McRae measure, which
passed the house last June, is plan to
put the national forest reserves under
regulation management and make them
self supporting.
The necessity for state action, both
separately and in federation, Is clearly
set forth III the report for 1895 of the
fire warden of Minnesota.
The report closes with a statement of
the utility OF the forests and argument
for their presentations:
The Minnesota forests are a great natural
reservoir - moisture feeding hundreds Of
streams, which fertlllze the soil and turn tine
machinery OF manufactures. They afford an
important industry and home marke for aCrl-
cultural supplies The pine forests should also
be valuable health resorts, for 1t has been
conclusIvely shown by scientific observations
that forest air Is much richer in ozone than
the air II open countries. The celebrated
Swedish iron Is produced u charcoal instead
OF mineral coal, and IL would seem that the
conversion Of Minnesota ore into irun by char
coal should he encouraged by the Stte rather
than have 1t all shipped away IN crude condl-
ton. This while creating new industry,
would furnish new incentive for perpetual
ing thu forests No abatement u the St, ming
ly ruthless consumption Of pine can AT present
be expected for great companies have their
capital all embarked IN the bu~iH and have
built railroads specially for numbering. They
cannot now stop without financial failure, and
II We are to have permanent forests II must Ice
the state the United States that viii con-
serve them.
a change Of terms to suit the varied
Natural resources Of the several locah-
ties blessed with rich forest lands would
make the Minnesota plea applicable to
nearly every state III the nation. In its
broader aspects the question l. stated IN
u recent number Of Garden and Forest.
An editorial treating upon forest and
flood says
1t Is unpleasant to be constantly sounding
Alarms and arv=3stlng ca.aHltlts. NJ Eltt OF
prophecy i utelgd to furrtril the rum which
VIII follow II the devastation Of the forests Of
the Appalachian region from quebec to Ala
baina goes tor the next = years 1t has
done. And whO can estimate the Ge~o.atipn
winch y ill olIsUe Il Tie floods are let loose from
the stlH lattier ranges which feed the Column
bla, the Sacramento and the san Joaquin. or
VINO can imagine the extent Of the inland sea
that VII roll over thu Mississippi valley when
the water barriers are removed from the east
ern slopes # TIL great continental divide ind
the sources e That immense water system in
the central north: Common prudence ought
10 arouse thu legislatures OF the various states
and Of tho nation 10 face this problem now,
which i Of more vital importance to the lie Of
the republic than any question Of tariff or Of
currency.
Many Of the states are already aroused
TO the crisis. Minnesota not only looks
70 the preservation Of her vast forest
treasures, but she has among her statutes
a forestry act toencourage tree planting.
Her forest, are under the control of a
forest commissioner, and the forest fire
law now III operation in that state is
SAID TO be the most complete ever en-
acted.
New York established forestry com
mission some Years ago. So far its la
bors have been confined to the state
holdings in the Adirondack regions
Less than fourth Of the 2,o00, 600
acres constituting Adirondack park be.