The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-06-19

corporations. The reason is ObviOus
1T IS estimated by the Department O
Agriculture that within five years TN
forests would be sclf-sustaining. an,
after that source of increasins
revenue for all tim, to come. II !,
impossible Tor the States to undertak,
lhis work. New York, in order &c
protect the Hudson and Mohawk. has
neeh purchasing large domain
TN 0ugh the Adirondack forests which
she proposes adding to evcry wear,
This is possible because the whole
'orritory Is within the limits of the
H'a'c OF New York. But in the Appa-
."cn'sh region one State can not buy
inc forest sources of the streams be-
cause they are in another State. The
H'ale which has the forests can not be
expected to go to the expense of pro.
'ectlhS them in order to preserve the
streams and agliCulinrs and industries
OF adjoining commonwcalths.
| The government does much in many
| ways to create wealth for the peoplc
Every river and harbor bill carries
with II millions of dollars to create
wealth by dredging harbors, rivers,
aud streams. The irrigation PROPOSE.
tlohs which are always before us anu
some OF which have passed the Senate
are also for the creation of wealth Nv
making fertile the lands which have
always lam arid. Here, however, IL n
proposition not For the creation OF
wealth, Tor It's preservation. This IS n
scheme not for many local improve
mcnts like the $70,OOO,O public
buildings bill or the $40 900 900 river
amt harbor bill, ol the innumerablc
other bills which we pass for localities,
but it is public and benliccnt measure
TO keep for future generations in manv
States and over II large area the pro,luc.
tive energies which nature has stored
Tor the comfort, the living, and the
happiness OF large populations, and for
the wealth Of the whole country.
IL differs from all other schemes Of
governmental aid IN another way. The
advantages derived by the government
from the Improvement of rivers and
harbors IL incidental and indirect. The
same ls tue of irrigation, of public
expenditures of every kind; but IN this
broad and beneliccnt scheme the GOV.
ernment protects its people by enter
States or individuals, and which M
machinery but that of the government
can carry on, and which the cXpcrienc,
Oh other countries has demonstrate,
vii prove Il source of perpetual re
venue.
We have been happy posscssors O
such extensive forest territories tha
we have not yet, like other nations
felt the poverty of wood. There ha
not been brought home to us how de
pendent we are upon it for all pur
poses IN our domestic, home, and bust
ness life. 1t would be little short of
national calamity if we should fee
acutely the loss of our wood. Tha
his will occur, and wood become q,
nigh as 10 ma ko 1t luxury, is certain
IT this forest denudation goes on. From
che cottage of the poor man ana the
home and outbuildngs of the farmc,
to The highly polished woods whose
artlstlc granting ornaments the palaces
OF the rich, this wise provision of na,
ture is our necessity. We can only
keep these hard woods, which every
year are becoming scarcer and more
costly, within reasonable reach of the
demands of the people by the govern
ment entering upon this process of
scientific forestry. Instead of this 100
miles OF hardwood forests being dc.
stroyed, as they will be in ten years
unless measures are taken for their
preservation, they would under this
scheme last forever, and yield annual
ly harvest for the uses of the people.
A few corporations or individuals may
accumulate In short time large for
tunes by cdforesting, fortunes which
Will disappear in generation or two,
but wise ownership, preservation, and
administration by the government will
give employment, property, industries,
and homes to multitudcs for all time,
TO sum up briefly, then, this is
work which only can be done hy the
government of the United States. IT.
should be done by the government be.
cause IL interests many States and in a
largo way the people of the whole
country. 1t preserves the hardwood
forests and their product for future
generations. 1t keeps upon the hills
and mountain sides the woods whosc
influence upon climate, soil, and rain
tall is most beneficial TO vast terri.
tory. 1t prevents mountain torrents,
which will in time, as the destruction
OF the forests goes on, turn large ag-
rlcultural region into a desert. 1t con
serves for manufacturing purposes that
enormous water power which will be
utilized for a multitude of industries
which will give employment to thous-
ands and add enormously to the wealth
of the country. Instead of being an
expense and drain it would be
the best expense which the govern
ment could make if that WAS necessary
1t will be one of those beneGcent
improvements which will shed bless.
ings everywhere: and at the same time
be self-sustaining and source of ever.
lasting revenue to the government.