The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-04-30

be sought as a benefit and accepted by
the masses of the people in each State
in a friendly and supporting spirit
Public sentiment is rapidly becoming
enlightened upon these questions, and
the enforcement of the law would have
that most powerful of all aid-the NOR
al backing of the people of the vicin-
ity.
The creation of many of the forest
reserves was met at the beginning with
active hostility and resentment Ex
perience has demonstrated the neces-
sity and utility of these reserves. The
conservation of the streams and the
beneficial effects upon the climate Of
the locality are matters which have at
tracted the favorable attention of the
people generally. Your committee pro-
pose, by an amendment to the bill. to
have the State authorities consulted in
the future or enlargement of forest re-
serves in the States, The committee are
inclined to the opinion that, while the
amendment may cause the national
government some inconvenience in the
creation or extension of such reserves,
this will be more than compensated by
the greater harmony in forestry ques-
lions.
The expansion of the system is no
longer met with local pickering and
hostility. The public have found that 1t
is not the intention OF the friends of
forestry to withdraw such lands from
the use, but to withdraw and preserve
them for the use, of the people. To pre-
serve them from destruction for the
public use is highly beneficial purpose.
1t is not a mere sentimental question.
The poet may from the heart sing
"Woodman, spare that tree, but no
mere matter of poetic sentiment is in
volved in the question of national for
estry. 1t is a plain practical business
proposition. The friends of forestry are
utilitarian in their ideas and purposes.
When a tree becomes ripe and is re-
quired for any beneficial use, it should
be marketed in ap roper and careful
manner and its place supplied by
younger growth for the uses of the
coming generations.
In France great sums of money are
being expended in the reforestation of
the mountain which have ben recklessly
denuded, and the gravely soil has been
washing down. to the utter destruction
of the valleys below. Terraces are be-
ing built and trees replanted in the
hope of saving further destruction. In
Northern New York the State has ac-
quired the Adirondacks in order to pre-
serve the headwaters of the Hudson
and has expended nearly $400 600 for
that purpose.
pto1 r. cft-JIn Han, Ff
means a change of climate, the drying
up of the springs and the conversion of
the deep, perpetual streams into dry
and gravelly torrents, 1t means recur-
ring floods and drouths in endless and
ruinous succession. We must give up
portion of the land to forestation in or
der to preserve the usefulness of the re-
mainder These questions have thrust
themselves upon the unwilling attention
of the people by the dire results of the
general destruction of our national for
ests. The necessity Of the preservati ton
of considerable areas of our woods Is
now generally recognized. The propri-
ETY. of the continuance of this policy is
no longer seriously disputed. The gen.
eral destruction of game, birds and fish
has also attracted public attention, and
met with general condemnation. Now
that these forest reserves have come,
and come to stay, it would be good pol
icy to provide in them places of refuge
for some of the small remainder of our
once abundant animal life. These re-
serves would have breeding grounds.
from which the surrounding country
would be restocked, and thus an addi-
ton beneficial use would be added to
our general system of forestry.