Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-02-21
PRESERVING THE FORESTS.
(Denver Post.)

tDenVef fOSt.)
Every effort to preserve the states
forests. fast being deeimated by fire
and by axe, merits the support of ev-
cry man with the states interests at
heart. Whenever mountain slope
that has been covered with thick
growth of trees is denuded, then is an
attack made upon the prosperity of
the farmer. The trees hold the
SHOWS until after the first warm days
of the spring and assist in more even
supply of water through the seasons
when it is most needed. Hence the
farmer and irrigator is the man most
Interested in the preservation of the
forests. All other interests must be
secondary to this.
In the great river valleys of the
east there is an annual inundation be-
cause the mountains and the hills
have lost their trees. With the first
warm breaking up of the weather in
the spring the heavy SHOWS are melt
in one vast volume. 1t is recognized
there that the destruction OF the for
ests is an evil demanding the most Sc
we're penalties that legislature may
impose. Those sections do not have
tho greater incentive to nction that
is found in the arid region along the
base of the Rocky mountains. With
them 1t is not so much question af-
fecting the regular supply of food for
the people.
Representative Fall has before the
house bill that makes most radical
shange in the manner Of selling tim
Der in state lands, but most neces-
sary one. BY it the intending purchas-
er of state timber must, in his appli-
cation, give close description OF the
land from which he proposes to take
the timber. The description must
be advertised for thirty days in some
newspaper that is published in com
munity in the irrigation district along
the streams Of which the forest is
part of the water shed. The farmers
may be heard in protest against the
proposed destruction Of the timber
and have the right to bring proceed
ings and stop the sale. The law Is
the first to recognize the rights of
the irrigator ard his great interest
in the preservation of the forest. If
of some timber, but it will give water
for trees, crops and farmers on the
plains.
! In many parts Of Europe the law is
that man who cuts down tree
must plant one in its place. Were
he required to plant two in Colorado
for every one destroyed and to see
that the two were kept alive for at
least five years, the enactment would
work no harm to the state In general.
The act would be of untold value to
the generations to come, who are re-
ally more concerned in forest pres
ervation and tree planting than is
that of the present.
A provision of Mr.. Falls bill that
has been made necessary by present
practice. is that compelling a com
plete description of the land from
which the timber Is to be cut. I'm
ueT Tie Uiu pTdctiCt tue puytT VI lim-
Der has made the purchasing of tim
ber on an S0-acre tract the excuse
for denuding several hundreds of
acres. All efforts to call such con
tractors to account have failed be-
cause there was no good description
OF the original land on file. Frequent
ly there has been nothing in the land
office to show in what county the land
was situated. With no means of
checking wholesale destruction it has
been impossible to punish offenders
or to prevent any amount Of unlaw-
full tree-cutting. Too many safeguards
cannot be thrown around the forests
OF the state.
The only feature Of the bill that is
especially Objectionable at any time
but more so when the state Is Sc
financially cramped as at present, Is
that providing for six additional as
sistant land appraisers. The author
of the bill is certain its provisions
will be ineffective without these Off
GERS. Whether the state can afford
to employ them is matter for the
legislature to determine.