The record-union., 1897-04-15
PROTECTING THE LARGER IN
TERESTS.

Many experts in forestry and clinat-
ology appointed by the association for
the advancement of science, reported
to President Harrison upon forest con-
ditions in the United States. Upon
the report as a, basis of action, Presi-
dent Harrison ordered withdrawn from
entry and sale over 10000 000 acres of
timber land in the West. Mr.. Cleve-
land on coming into office reviewed the
case, heard other testimony and con-
firmed the action of his predecessor by
ordering 21,000,000 acres more with
drawn.
On President Mckinley taking the
Presidential chair, he was at once ap-
pealed to to cancel these orders in larg
est part. That is the question now
before the country regarding forest
reservations. The protests against
withdrawal all come from people Of
mountain and wooded, regions or close
ly related to them. They claim that
industrial necessity demands cancella-
tion of the orders in most part, that
the practical benefits of Telling the
timber far outweigh the possible good
of reserving the trees; that unless
the orders are set aside millions Of dol
lars of Industrial investment will be
withdrawn; that enough timber will be
left, and should be, to protect the
water sheds, promote new growth and
conserve stream supplies, and to that
end stock should be kept out of forest
lands since stock tramping destroys
the soil growth, and kills off young
tree growth.
These are the arguments of the pro-
testants against the withdrawal ord
ers. The arguments of the other side
are too well known to demand recita-
tion here. They are the arguments
OF science based upon human expert
ence, which is the source Of all knowl-
edge. We are not to consider in this
matter of forest reservation and pre-
servation the immediate neighborhoods
of people related most closely TO the
utilization, irrespective of the results
in a future of which such immediate
neighborhoods take no account. The
destruction of American forests is not
a local but a national question. 1t is
one with a horizon so broad as to cover
the hopes and happiness of generations
to come.
1t must be conceded by any well in
formed intelligence that the total de-
struction of American forest growth
that protects the water sheds and the
river feeding, is but a question of a
short time if the denuding now going
on is not checked. To attempt by ar
tificial growth to keep pace with un-
checked denudation of the noun
tain fianks, is as futile as would be
the attempt to supply the ocean daily
grafton.
1t is simply a question whether for
the present gain of the present few,
the blossoming sections of the West
aAC ~ &c NCSAeAdSo ~ lAAd EA0AAo. win
the restrained waters of each spring,
sweeping on in the destruction of life
and the possibilities of occupation of
the valleys by human beings. The
reservation orders are not too sweep
ing They should not be modified. The
people as mass have higher and more
vital interests at stake in forest pre-
servation, than have the few who are
to benefit by forest destruction.
So far as the protestants against the
withdrawal orders admit that there
should be some restraint; that stock
should be excluded and that there
should be wise regulation to prevent
wanton destruction. they are sound in
argument. But this cannot be done at
once. Absolute withdrawal it is not
claimed will continue. But it is ne
cessity now, that regulation may fol-
low and tree removal be provided for,
so as to do no injury, but rather to