Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-08-16
Save tho Fore.ts

Inc preservation OF the forests has
oeeoihe i've question with the
american public. Everyone mat stud
les the question at all must be con-
'ihced that something should be- done
ana done at once. Forests are of slox
o"th' and an area denuded cannot
'e reiorested In generation. There
.Ie rev big trees that are not older
'hnh the men around them. Careful
estimates on the growth OF the spruce
SHOWS that the trees now having n d.
aiheter or Is inches cannot be replaced
oy trees OF the same size In less than
ao 'eafs' IL takes spruce Seeding
sea's 10 attain a diameter OF 3
.nehes a At breast high from the ground.
10 gain the next inch In diameter re-
du'fes II years. The next inch of
s'oWth Is made In II years: so that
~ o' years II has attained a diameter
VI only hve Inches. The diameter OF u
toot ana half will be reached when
the tree Is l5i years OF age. We look
upon young forest OF spruce without
realizing Its value. We see trees 8. q,
or Inches in diameter without sus-
P"euhs that they represent decades of
s'o"'h' They are cut down ruthiessly
ahu sometimes set on fire for pastIme.
io' tue s-inch trees are more than SO
years old. and more valuable because
OF age. a tree that Is II inches In d.
ametcr makes another inch In 9 years.
MS ihes Indicates that the larger the
Tree the more rapidly does |, Increase
IN diameter. The time OF waiting Is
while the tree Is small.
These small but old trees will, In a
10" decades. be very valuable for lum-
Der. u preserved. Yet how often arc
they sacrificed without thought Tn,
De trees ht for lumber are cut down
ana trimmed. Tho branches arc left
on IN ground whcro they fall and In
\ Tow years become as dry ns kindiIng
wood. They arc kIndlIng wood spread
out over hundreds of square miles Of
Ho'callcd young growth. Tho day II
sure to come when the nro gets start
10 this material and when the wind IL
In mood to work mischief Then tho
Tiny hrc becomes demon OF flame.
rushing through tho slender forests
and dcyonrins ~ Il goes. Even green
wood Will burn when the heat around
u IL Intense. We all know tho stories
OF the recent great fires In the ives;
that have had their origin In the rub
blsh lcf; by the companies that had cx-
plotted the forests and then lcf, them
public menace. Tho record OF loss
of property and life Ia long. whole
villages have been obiltcTatca. milrs
OF railroads destroyed. trains caugh, In
the ncry vortex and abandoned. herds
OF cattle and fiockB Of sheep smo,hrrct.
All this has occurred because men or
companies have been given free hand
TO conduct their operations with III,
sole idea Of profit to themselves. and
with no idea OF the proilt or even
safety OF others.
There Il only one solution TO the
problem. The states must secure as
much OF the land now in forests ~
possible. In some cases this can bo
done without expense. In other ap-
propFIations should be made for the
purchase OF forest areas. New York
has already taken tho lead In the mat
ter and Is showing what can be done.
by an act Of the Legislature the state
has entered on system OF forest pres
crya,ion. In the Adirondack region
the forest preserve amounts to 1.:eo.-
as7 acres. and In the Catskill region
to 7s9li acres. This large public res
cryation was set apart TO "bc forever
reserved. maintained and cared for rs
a ground open for the free Use Of all
the people for their health and pleas.
urc. aud as forest lands. necessary to
the preservation Of the head waters OF
the chief rivers OF the state. and a fu-
turc timber supply: and shall remain
part OF the forest preserve" Addi-
tions TO the preserve are made by the
Forest Preserve Board. The suporin-
icndcnt OF state forests has charge
of all work connected with the care and
custody Of the forest preserve"
Il is perhaps wcll for the other states
that New York has taken so vigorous
n lead: for they can profit by her mis-
takes. In their haste TO further the
movement for the preservation of the
forests. the people Of New York In the
year 1894 adopted an amendment TO
their constitution as follows: The
lands of the state. now owned or here
after acquired. constituting the forest
preserve as now fixed by law. shall be
forever kept as wild forest lands. They
shall not be leased. sold or exchanged.
or be taken by any corporation. public
or private. nor shall the timber there
on be sold. removed or destroyed"
This is certainly oycrshooting tho
mark. and leading foresters are recog-
MIXING the fact. II is believed that the
amendment will be modified at the first
opportunity. II is manifestly absurd to
permit the state to sell no lumber. as
the annual removal of a portion of the
trees is a benefit to the forest. and the
revenue thus secured would be In time
.nnnIhnrnhIe To dcmonstrate this tho