The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-12

N. Secretary Hitchcock made an
nounccment. after a recent cab
met meeting. is about to he taken by
the federal government in a matter
vital to the future welfare of the en-
tire country. That announcement is
that he is now preparing to organize
a forestry bureau in the interior de-
partmcnt. to carry out an extensive
| system of reforestation. somewhat on
tho successful plan carried on by the
government in Germany. 1t is yet too
| early to so into details, the secretary
| said, but he remarked that the Dresi-
dent and every member of the cabinet
are satisfied with the praCticability
of the scheme, and impressed with the
results that could he achieved by it
in restoring the rapidly disappearing
woodlands"
That the general government, as
well as those of some states of this
Union, should be at last aroused to
recognition of the vital necessity cX-
listing for restoration and proper con-
servation of tho forests, is a hopcfuI
sign for the future prosperity of the
land that has arrived none too early.
The old saying, Better late than
never" is thoroughly applicable in
this.
The organization of three univcr-
sity forestry schools, in differ
ent states, within the last few years
is another step forward, of immense
importance. Cornell's, first organized.
was speedily followed by that of the
University of Southern California, and
Yale came in a good third. California
has now fourth, either at Berkeley
or Stanford. While the University of
Pennsylvania has not yet organized
such a school-we wish it had--it has
the proud distinction of having as one
of it's faculty the most indefatigablc
and successful awakcner and educator
of the public with regard to forestry
in all its relations that the country
posse sCsscs-Dr. Joseph Z. Rothrocl<.
forestry commissioner of pennsyl-
vania.
The general question of forest res
toration, proper use, and conservation.
has begun to attract a wider interest
in trees elsewhere than in the forests
trees on the farm along the road
ways, in the cities and towns. Some
Of our cities make chiefly hapha2ard
or sporadic cndedvors towards the set
ting out and care of trees. 1t is well
worth the while of American citizens
of every municipality that boasts it,
self of being mo mean City"-eNcry one
OF them makes that boaSt--to study
what is told in Harncr's Magazine for
the current month of how the city of
Paris cares for its trees.
1T is by means of such manage-
ment," Says the writer Of the article
on Frances beautiful capital, that tho
city has made herself, with her many
thousand lanterns, "the willie lumiere,"
and in the inhospi,able side of her
boulevards and avenues has planted
nearly ninety thousand trees. For the
provision OF these and the flowers in
her parks and gardens she has estab-
lished municipal nurseries and hot
houses, the chief gardener reporting
for the year 1897 an output OF moro
than millioa plants. The city has
learned also the art of transplanting
large trees successfully, so that at
the earliest signs of decay a street
tree may be removed and the SYM
metry of the vista not spoiled by its
successor. For these trees alone tho
expenses of Paris amounts to about
100000 a year. The municipal nurs-
cries include a hospital" or "cure"
for the tired trees. where they arc
restored, If possible, to health and
strength in soil that is richer than the
city's. In spring and fall these trees
on their way to or from the hospital
are no uncommon feature in the street
scenes OF Paris.
Some day, one, it may be hoped, in