The record-union., 1899-07-03

Sc. 500; vet it has been sold for $50.
The sugar pine, redwood, FIR, spruce,
ETC., of the Sierras, have been disposed
of in the same way. This is not new
in the history of this country. The
white pine of Maine, the live oaks of
Florida, the vast pine forests of Mich
igan and Washington have received
the same treatment, and to-day thou
sands of acres, despoiled of their
wealth, their recuperative powers
checked by destructive pasturage, and
intentional or accidental fires, are in
one or the other stage of decrepitude.
The owners of these lands are,in some
instances, almost ready to return them
to the State. When an attempt is made
to check the evil of timber land grab
hing. pressure is brought to bear on
Congress by those who desire to ex-
plot the public wealth, and the at
tempt is rendered abortive. The re-
suits of this system are glaringly set
forth in the case of the live oak forests
of Florida. Shortly after Florida was
purchased, large reservations OF this
valuable timber were made for the
use of the navy. Later contractors for
furnishing this class of timber to the
Der stolen from these very reservesf
George P. Marsh: The Earth as Modi-
fed by Human Action, p. 3SI. note).
Nevertheless. under the advice and
spur of those interested in forestry,
and who realize the evils of forest de-
mutation, broad and important invesu-
cations have been made, thorough
studies have been carried on, the ben
incr
which are practiced are fully elucl-
dated, and have been reiterated with
convincing force before successive
Congresses. for the last quarter OF
century or more; yet no broadly con-
ceived policy to check forest hres, TO
stop depredations, nor to afforest par
rem areas has been put in force nor
has any considerable portion OF the
funds recovered from timber stolen
from the public domain been used to
afforest the same; neither is any pat
of the funds derived from the sale OF
timbered lands set apart for forest
preservation. No broader studies have
been made under any government than
the advocates of forestry have issued
from the Government Printing ONCE.
That these studies have resulted in no
practical result is proof of the view
that Congress cannot directly manage
practical forestry. 1t is possible that
the limit of work which the general
government can do is reached when
the examinations are made. 1t would
be idle to cite greater affairs which
the Government has successfully ac-
complished as proof that it could UNI
dertake systematic forestry for in this
, the element of politics must be dealt
with in it's most effective form. and
the only way to nullify it is to place
forestry above and beyond the powers
of the practical politician.
! NO policy contaminated by political
control can be enforced over the long
periods Of time necessary in success
full forest management. There is now
(! on trial in New York the experiment
| of putting forest preservation in the
hands of the State, aided by the broad
| ening influences of a college OF FOR
estry. It is probable that the results
| will be more favorable than amy posi-
! BILE under the General Government, FOL
the nearer these great interests are to
| the people. to the individual, the great :
er becomes the possibility of beneficial
results. The State Government Is,
however, liable to the same error as IS
| the General Government. The same
| evils attend both systems. The differ
ences are those of degree only; with
readiness of correcting mistakes and
evils possibly in favor of State admin