The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-30
NO U OF E
Americans, Especially City Residents,
Hold Them i'm Light Esteem.

New York Press.
When General George H. Thomas was
commanding the Department of the Ten
nessee. In 1867. with headquarters at Louis
vile, he received a letter from a mayor in
a Georgia city whose house had long been
the Office of a federal oommandant. Nearly
everything on the estate had been de-
stroyed. The only piece of furniture left
was an walnut bookcase in the
main hall, and nothing remained in the
grounds but the splendid grove of oak
trees. The telling of one of these caused
the letter, which, in part, was as follows:
Destroy the residence and outbuildings IL
you wish, the fences, arbors, lawns, gar
dens. flowers. etc, for they may be re-
stored, but leave my trees; L could never
replace them" II is said that Thomas re-
spected the appeal-after some noble oaks
had been laid low.
The average New Yorker has no thought
of trees. Long accustomed to feasting his
eyes upon brownstone facades as barren as
Sahara, and TO lowering under the shady
side of a row of granite skyscrapers. his
mind is too much pr%eoccupied to take in
trees. When he gets hold of a few millions
he builds a country house on a point OF
rock at Newport, or elsewhere, and sticks
a lot of shrubs about il so that the common
herd cannot see what he is doing. His soul
is not big enough for trees! His pacity Is
measured by a hedge of eunoymus or
Chinese box, some dwarf magnolias, a
cluster Of hybrid cedars and an avenue OF
potted plants-mostly geraniums. One OK
the crimes of which he never dreamed Is
the destruction OF t~rees-their murder in
cold blood premeditated. He will inform
you that trees in a city breed miasma and
bacteria.
After our colleges and universities have
well-established chairs of forestry we may
begin TO save the trees in our woods. New
York OWNS 1870, 92S acres OF forest preserve,
which should yield a handsome annual rev.
enue without impairment. Restocking Is
an art that must be learned. There is no
difficulty. Only patience is needed. Trees
are easier to raise than cattle, horses or
sheep. They can be bred. Pure strains
may be led on and improved, or may be
crossed TO advantage. The mystery Of tree
culture was solved years ago. The ever
lasting drawback TO the business is its slow
ness. A man wants 10 watch the growth
and fullest development OF that which he
propagates. A horse Is grown in nve years,
a COW in four, a chicken in one. a child in
eighteen TO twenty-one. But a tree may
not attain its full height and circumference
in 100 or 1000 years.
Unless scientists educate US how TO live
for 300 years at least we shall be forced 10
make the cultivation OF forests a duty OF
posterity, providing for our paintings in our
wills, with children and grandchildren car
rying on the good work. The oft-repeated
wall is that when our forests give out rail-
roads will have no crossties. Bah! Inven-
ton has always rallied 10 the support OF
Mother Necessity. 1 have in mind at this
moment a tie made OF glass which will last
a century. Another cry is that the pulp
mills will soon be out OF timber for making
paper. Rot Ages before the timber gives
out we shall be printing the Press on paper
made Of other material. We should be do
ing IL now, for there are scores of things
better for paper making than trees.
Our state. forest. fish and game COM
mission devotes the larger part of its re-
port OF 1890, just issued, 10 the forest pre-
serve. which is highly commendable. While
1 would not underrate the value of pisci-
culture or game preservation. neither be-
gin to vie in importance with protective
forestry Forestry. indeed. combines the
preservation OF our woods. fish and game.
Furthermore. fishing. except I'm the great
lakes and in tidewater streams. is "A pas
time. WIN game is a luxury. We can
easily &c along without game and fresh
water fsh. Our domestic animals supply
US with the necessary meat, while Old
Ocean Is constantly casting upon our
shores. as IL were. sufficient sea food for
the worlds population. Yes! Let US look
TO our forests