The record-union., 1899-06-22
DENUDAToN OF THE HILLS.


We yesterday repubrshed from the
San Francisco Cali statement made
by Mr. William H. Mills of recent obs
servations on his part in Oregon and
the northern part of this State of the
effects of the denudation of the mount
ain flanks. The recital he makes is a
pitiful one. If trees were human beings
we would find in the recital referred to
sufficient to stir the ceepst waters of
sympathetic WOE and to justify plac-
ing the State and nation in the weeds
of mourning.
We, have no int tention of going over the
ground in detail now. The article from
the ,sCalp' which we have reproduced
needs no commentary to be written up
on it. 1t tells its own mournful story
sufficiently. 1t forecasts the dark and
unpromising future if the predations
OF the present upon our forests con-
tlnue with unerring and lamentable GER
'a1nty. The question is not now one
" mourning or lamentation, but of ac-
Ion and prevention.
AS far back as 1872 the Record
onionp folfecast just what would hap
zen to ouEr unprotected timber lands,
ana Just Tyhat has happened. In that
ana theH succeeding years down to the
ss5nt this journal has. without any
: p'n = warned the people and the Gov
1nment Of the Inevitable conse-
quenees, climatic. commercial and So
clal to. flow from the stripping of the
mountain sides of their natural eoy-
sering and protection from the assaults
OF rain and wind.
We have repeatedly quoted the his
tory Of the upper waters of the great
streams of Europe. and pointed out
how uneconornic and wastefuI practices
visited upon the great Continental
States, cost and evils incalculable, and
drove them finally not only to the es-
tablishment Of innumerable schools of
forestry, but to the most drastic meas
ures to repair the 1avages of indiscre-
tion and vandalism
Europe has demonstrated that some
thing, nay, much, can be done in that
direction. Happily we have not gone
10 the extent that was achieved there
in destroying timber, and our case is
therefore far more hopeful
Early in the '70s the United States
Government sent Franklin B. Hough
10 Europe 70 study the forestry ques-
tion- In 1877 he submitted to the Gov
ernment his report, which constitutes
n fhn 1r..-
ments ever filed. That report gave
warming TO our country, and to some
extent it has been needed. But there
mas not been that prompt and earnest
action which the conditions demanded
one OF the first States of the Union
e take up the subject with vigor was
New York, when it found itself about
TO be deprived Of the physical benefits
OF the noble timber clothing of the
ADIRONDACK region. The Empire State
set US an example IN the matter of re.
pair that We would do we'll to study.
ine Federal Government, we take it.
Is now fully awake to the necessity for
protecting the timber of the mountain
Hanks. the fount of our streams. tba |
eonservator of equable tenperature
ana the promoter of all desirable agri-
cultural conditions. The States must
meet the Federal Government more
Snan haif way in this work, and indeed |
push It to still more energy of move
ment
we look forward to the approaebine |
water conservation convention. of |
Wnich the Record Union" has fire.
quentiy spoken Of late, as one of the |
most valuable Of agencies for quicken |
ing public interest in this whole sub
9ect- 1t may be, properly handled. |
mace chief agency in the setting un
or policy that will result in saving
rs from most of the ills which the de-
mutation of our mountain slopes now
threaten
SlIrRaan MoCsu,astox,