Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1903-07-17
FOREST RESERVE.
Preservation Of Timber Aids Min
inq.

Preservation Of Timber Aids Min
ing.
Without question mining is the prin-
cipal industry of our county and es-
sentially SO within the district which
is proposed to set apart as forest
reserve. The success of this industry
means prosperity for all, while its fail
ure means ruin for all; hence any sys-
tenn which tends to the betterment and
increase of mining is desirable.
Mining will flourish only where the
lands are open to the prospector. It
was a grave mistake, SO far as the
mining industry was concerned, for the
government to patent lands in the min
eral districts, except for mining pur-
poses. The miner has been pursuing
his avocation in this county for more
than fifty years and yet new deposits
are found almost daily and frequently
in localities least expected, thus en-
phasizing the desirability of preserving
the public lands for the miner. It is |
well understood that when lands are
once patented for agriculture, they are
thereafter closed against the prospec-
tor except under conditions which are
practically prohibitory.
If our patented lands are preserved
for the miner and disposed of only for
mining purposes, as they should be,
fifty years more will not fully develop
much less exhaust, our mineral wealth
Again, water is a prime necessity in
the prosecution of mining in any of
its forms. The preservation of our tim
Der is one of the surest, if not the only
way, of preserving our water supply.
This water is needed for washing, for
power, to drive mining and electrical
machinery, and the various uses to
which it is applied. If we are to enjoy
in the future an abundant water supply
it will be because we preserve the
timber "The tree is the mother of the
fountain" is a maxim, the truth of
which cannot be disputed. Barren
mountain ranges never conduce to the
wealth or health of any country or peo-
pie. Not only is the rain fall less
in treeless ranges, but such tracts
are the Matching ground of the de-
structive floods.
Timber is another necessity to the
miner. When the miner first located
among the gold fields he found timber
in abundance on every hand. At that
time the supply seemed inexhaustible,
yet today were it not for the second
growth which nature has provided in
spite of our destructive methods as
pursued up to this time, large sections
of our country would now be treeless.
That our timber has been ruthlessly
wasted admits of no denial. In addition
| to our destructive methods very large
4! amounts of timber both old and young
are annually destroyed by fire, either
as the result of carelesness or voliti-
onal firing.
Up to this time no measures have
been put into operation tending to les
sen this waste While other counties,
less forward than we, are carefully
protecting and encouraging timber
growth and preservation, we continue
our destructive course, needless of the
results
Our government has finally awaken
ed to an appreciation of the serious
ness and far reaching effects of the
course heretofore pursued. In the in
terest of all it has undertaken tt
remedy, in part at least, existing con
ditions On the very Threshold O
such endeavors the people who are tt
be most benefited are up in arm
demanding the government shall sta.
it's hand.
We demand that the government
shall assist or wholly build dams AM
l assist in irrigating our arid lands, an
in the same breath condemn thos
measures which have for their purpos
the creation and preservation of
water supply with which these resel
voirs and bitches are to replenish tn
thirsty land.
The miners of Nevada county hav
:, nothing to fear from the establishment
= Of forest reserves. such as is propose
y for portions of this county; on the col
: trary, free access to government land
!. within such bounaries for prospecting
location and development, with til