Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-23
lrbe lines are fallen to us in pleasa.t

places. Truly we have gOodly heri-
tage." However, 1t would be easy 10
show that the forests Of other parts OF
the world are likewise constant sources
of unprized wealth. Business men un-
derstand this. Already organizations
are gathering. stock companies form'
ing, for the exploitation OF the forest
wealth of the Philippines or to secure
control of the mahogany groves OF
Honduras. The india rubber products
of the Brazilian woods exceed the ar
nual gold output of the United States
equal perhaps pure gold and silver put
together.
The sad side of all this picture OF rich
es, and there is one. lies in the fact that
we have heedlessly garnered our har-
vest, foo!ishly ravshed our inheritance,
as if there were no future and we
cared never to see another crop. We
are not content with cutting the trees
and manufacturing lumber on scale
hitherto unheard Of among men. but
by our methods and carelessness we
lose very large part of the property
we handle. waste vast amounts that
might otherwise 90 to swell our win
nings and actually seal up to our sue
cessors what might be a fountain OF
perpetual revenue.
Forest fires. accidental or set out
with purpose fell, cost the people or
the United States not less than So
100000 every year. A single forest
fire in Minnesota is estimated to have
destroyed property to the value or
S12,OOOOOO. Every traveller along the
great railway lines that traverse the
western states and territories has had
his soul afflicted by sight Of the I'M
ceasing evidence of the ruin wrought
by fires. Whole mountain sides are
destroyed, whole valleys perfectly
black. The writer has been In Oregon
when for weeks the sky was darkened
continuously by the smoke of burning
forests. Much of this dreadful de-
structon comes from our wretched
methods of numbering. Logs are TAX
en- in such way as to render almost
certain the absolute destruction of ev-
erything that remains. We are killing
the goose that lays the golden egg.
Men who write on these subjects are
often accused of pessimism. Of singing
1eremiads, of being unable to see any
good in the changes going on around
them. But is the forest lover after all
unreasonable? He seeks to restrain no
laudable ambition. He would simply
have men handle our timber harvest
with the same discernment and dis
elimination which would by an intel
ligent owner be exercised in the man.
asement of any other crop. He would
have the forest used not extirpated.
OF course, in many places the forest
has been supplanted by other forms OF
harvest. We need other things be-
sides timber. Ohio and Indiana owe
their agricultural pre-eminence to the
industry of the men who sixty years
ago cleared the Wilderness drained the
swamps, felled the trees and burned
ANo ~ uC iSSNNi NNS'' 49,
to withhold from the plow lands adapt-
ed to successful agriculture. The
| world shall support the largest posi-
BILE population. But we would have
men use discretion. Because the clear
ing of the forest has been fortunate in
Ohio we may not conclude that the
ashy soils of southern Illinois. Of west
ern Kentucky and Tennessee may to
equal advantage be uncovered. There
are millions of acres over our whole
country which will produce trees and
almost no other crop. In view OF the
| unheard wealth that our people are
deriving from the resources of the for.
est. is he lacking in judgment or pa
triotism who urges that sources Of
such magnificent and profitable indus
try ought not to be idly. irretrievably
swept away?
The fact is the forests OF any land
are matter Of national economies
Interests so vast, property OF such im
mense possibilities in the way OF re-
turns and for the industrial employ.
ment of the people, may certainly
share the attention Of statesmen who
care for the development, the foster
ing. Of manufactures. the substituting
of fleets. Notwithstanding the adverse
opinion of some people it is neverthe
less true that it is possible so to use
forest that It's productivencss may be
perennial. rs wealth IN investment.
| yielding dividends large ard unceasing
as -" .y?;,G3.
tCopvrl;ht. 80. ;,y I.-w.s y sampson.l