The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-25
FOREST RESERVATIONS.
Two Important Reasons for Their
 Maintenance.

Two Important Reasons for Their Maintenance.
 American Medicine.
 Until quite recently few people have given much thought to the rapid de- struction of our magnificent North American forests. The necessity for limiting this destruction from the pure ly economic standpoint has been recog- nized only within the past ten years and since the act of March 3. 1891. the President has been given power to se- gregate forest reservations from the public lands. Professor J. W. Tourney Popular Science Monthly. June, 19O1,) discussing the subject of our forest reservations, states that no less than thirty-nine national forest reservations have been established, containing in the aggregate more than 46, 500, ,000 acres, an area more than fifteen times as large as the State of Connecticut and about one-fortieth of the total area of the country exclusive of Alaska. As the legislative act provides that the reser- vations are to be taken from public lands, they are for the most part in the Rocky Mountain region and in the Pacific coast States, where large areas of public forests and land are available. Much controversy has arisen as to the wisdom of withdrawing such large areas from sale or other disposition un- der the laws of the land office. This opposition has become less during the past few years and public sentiment in favor of forest reservations is rapidly increasing In fact, this change in sentiment has been so rapid that a movement is now on foot, with the prospect of success. to establish a na- tional forest reservation in the South ern Appalachian Mountains, where it will be necessary for the Government to purchase the land at an expense of several millions of dollars. A few State reservations have been established, the most splendid example being the State forests in the Adirondacks of New York. Similar reservations have been established in Pennsylvania and 1t Is likely that others will be set aside in Michigan during the present year. Un- fortunately, the lumber interests in Northern Minnesota are likely to pre- vent the establishment of a national reservation at the head of the Missis- sippi River.
 Prof. Tourney considers the import ance of forests more from the stand point of their value in producing lum- Der and in maintaining the water sup ply of the country. However, there Is another side to the question which Is
 
 not be overlooked. The value of for est reservations as great national parks for recreation and sport Is very great. In such reservations those so inclined can get in touch with nature at her best where the streams abound in trout. where wild animals are not confined behind iron bars and where there are no signs Keep off the grass" There a man can reinforce his physical strength with wholesome mountain aid, pure water, vigorous exercise and plain food. It Is a pity that the present state of development of our country makes such reservations impossible in the vicinity of most of our large cities. The park systems are of great importance as breathing places for the poorer people, but most of the real forests Of corsid- erable size are within a short distance of some of the largest cities. and these are constantly frequented by picnick- ing parties from the poorer classes dur ing the summer season Even now the reservation of ouch areas of land '. ould not be impossible in the neighborh pod of some of our large American cities, and they would prove good invest ment If the health, comfort 'no r.eas- ure of the masses were considered.