The record-union., 1897-11-24
FOREST RESERVATION.

From the report of the Secretary of
are nineteen national forest reserva
tions, embracing an estimated area of
1898, go acres. Thirteen forest re-
serves created by the proclamation of
February, 1897, We're suspended by the
Act of June, 1897, until March, 1898.
These suspended reserves embrace
nearly twenty millions of acres. The
Secretary points out that while the law
provided for setting apart reserves, it
did not provide for their protection and
care. Accordingly on recommendation
of the department in June, 1897, Con-
gress passed an Act authorizing the
Secretary to prescribe rules and regula-
tions needed and to establish such SER
vice as was requisite to preserve the
reserves.
In the same month the Secretary pro-
mulgated the necessary rules and set
about to have the reserves cared for
The idea at first was to establish a
Forest Bureau, but the means for its
maintenance were not available How
ever, special guards have been appoint
ed to patrol the reserves and enforce the
regulations, while one special agent is
making an examination of the whole
forest system, as represented in the
reserves, with view to the making of
a detailed report for the informa ton
of Congress and all the people. The
agent who has charge of the forest re-
serves in a part of this State, is the man
who originated the idea of setting apart
these reservations. and is an enthusiast
upon the forestry question. The de-
partment looks forward to his work,
and reports with more than usual in
terest evidently.
The Secretary Is certainly deeply i'm
pressed with the Importance of giving
great attention to this forestry ques-
don, since he dweIls upon it and gives
much interesting detail concerning 1t.
rHe says that in the last year there
We're so cases Of depredations upon
the public timber, involving values to
'the extent of $685., ,O64 6S. There are
now pending before the courts cases to
the number sof 145 involving more than
S3.0Oo.OO0 value for timber unlawfulIy
cut from public lands He says that
au the forest agents OF the Govern
nent are instructed to consider the pro-
lection of the public forests from fire.
and fT-S.r,,
most important of their public duties.
But these employees are not sufficient in
number, and the protective laws must
largely fail Of effect, unless Congress
authorizes a force to be put into the
Held numerically strong enough to give
the timber reserves the protection they
should have.
This is not pleasant reading. because
1t indicates that a very considera BILE
number OF people, who would be deeply
offended to be designated as thieves.
consider it entirely permissible to de-
stroy public timber, and as rather a
shrewd performance. as long as they
are not caught in the act. This moral
a4ASS4iSABllliy 10 lne NERVOUSNESS OF the
orime is deplorable. 1t is of a piece
with that other form of excusing con-
science that defends one in cheating
the Government by smuggling, and in
eyading the payment of Government
dues
There appears to be a rather wide
spread notion that theft from the Gov
ernment is really no crime, and that
he Who commits such offenses is more
blameworthy for being found out than
for perpetrating the crime. If all the
people could be deeply and solemnly
impressed with the great Importance of
preserving the forests of the country
that protect the mountain f1anks, con-
serve the retention of moisture in the
SOL, and the gradual rather than the
Hood supply of streams and rivers; if
they could be convinced OF the great
Importance Of such conservation of
wooded slopes in relation to the public
health and the non-disturbance OF eli
matte conditions, we would have an
army OF people acting for the Govern
ment-in a volunteer capacity. to aid in
preventing forest depreciation, and in