The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-29

poached from some of the royal forest
preserves. Today, however, the term
has wider meaning and stands for
scientific man with degree Of IF. E."
or Forest Engineer. Such degree is
we'll earned, for to enter any of the
state schools of forestry or the Forest
School at Yale College one must pass
an examination in botany, geology and
inorganic chemistry. To complete the
course the better part of four years
must be spent in practical work in the
demonstration forests connected with
such institutions.
The writer will try to show in this
paper that the educated and practical
forester of today has great work to-
perform and work of the greatest
moment to this country. Ever since
the first emigrants from Europe set
foot on the soil of North America, the
axe has been the symbol of progress.
From the shores of the Atlantic the axe
has blazed the westward trail of civili-
zation across the continent. The work
has been we'll done-over done in fact,
as the progress symbolized by the axe
has been progress of destruction and
ruthless waste. In the wake of the
reckless westward march of the lumb-
erman is left desolation. Denuded
hill tops, blackened stumps and stag
nant pool have taken the place of our
grand forests and flowing streams-a
picture doubly sad for the reason that
this whole destruction was unnecessary
and might have been avoided. A too
generous government and the blind be-
lief that our forests would last forever
are to blame.
The unfortunate idea that our forests
would never come to an end has gradu-
ally been superseded by the more sane
belief that something must be done to
check the indiscriminate destruction of
this great natural wealth of our coun-
try. The axe will continue to be potent
factor in industry, but its use must be
scientifically applied under the direc-
tion of skilled foresters.
The loss of natural wealth by the
reckless destruction of our forests can
not be measured in dollars and cents,
as the amount would be beyond COM
prehension and the indirect loss to irri-
CATION and water power can only be
computed, but is many times greater
than the value of the lumber obtained.
A few illustrations may not be out
of place.
The destruction of the timber on a
certain slope of the Appalachian
Mountains affected water power which
produced S2O,OOO,OOO per annum. Had
scientific forestry been applied in this
case enough timber would have been
left on this watershed to insure a
. steady flow of water in the streams and
, the water power would continue to
produce each year an amount far in ex-
cess of the value of the timber which
: was cut.
In California densely populated
section finds itself without water for
, irrigation, altho for many years previ.
Gus to the cutting Of the timber in the
, mountains there was always plenty
> Now it all comes down at once and
3 they have floods to contend with early
3 in the season, but during the growing
r period they cannot obtain drop. Con
sequently 10000 people have been in
3 jured and their valuable land made
: worthless through carelessness in cut
l ting timber almost amounting to Grim
| inal neglect. The writer is not familiar
S with forestry conditions in Germany
t Norway or Sweden, but contends thai
f such wholesale destruction of the wat
ersheds in the countries mentioned
= would mean revolution, which goes t(
b show how extravagant the American
t people are.
1 If Immediate steps are taken a grea
D part of the deforested region may b'
0 replanted, but in many cases we hav,
: already waited too long. When {
S mountain slope is bare of trees th'
t water rushing down after rain o.
from melting SHOWS carries the sol
with it. This is what causes the ugl,
r barren monuments of destruction WI
q see here and there in the mountains
t This soil can never be replaced and at
a ter time reforesting or replanting i
r, almost impossible. The director of tn