The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12
FOREST PRESERVATION.

Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
1t is indeed gratifying to see very de-
cided interest being aroused in intelligent
forestry. the chief aim of which is the
preservation of our forests, or, rather. the
renewal of the same. No State is more
vitality interested in this branch of gov
ernmental supervision and instruction than
Georgia. The denudation of the timber in
the mountain region of the State has had
no little TO do with impoverishing our soil
and increasing the growing seasons liabil-
ity to drought.
The State has been culpable in the past
in not forestalling this abuse and waste of
natures forces by protective legislation.
and there is much still to be done along
this line. The large turpentine interests
IN south Georgia are unnecessarily de-
structive of pine timber. The federal gov
eminent has group of instructors con-
nected with its Forestry Bureau in east
Texas now teaching the timber owners how
TO profit by their trees without destroying
them. or destroying them TO have them
promptly succeeded by a sapling forest.
An authority on the subject declares that
the necessity for irrigation as a makeshift
Tor production Is the result of the destruc-
ton or our forests, largely. No longer do
the leaves beneath the forest trees retain
the moisture. gradually permitting 1t to
feed the earth, but the rains fall and the
water now PUSHES headlong TO the seas.
The moisture, being thus precipitately car
rfed away. the rainfall gradually decreases,
nnally resulting In drought and the conse-
ouent ruin Of growing crops.
Few or our older citizens but remark that
the climate has gradually been undergoing
3 change and is now sadly tout of whack''
from some cause or other. Probably the
cause Is TO be traced TO timber depletion
IN large degree. Touching this subject John
+. Lacey I'm 0unton's Magazine says:
The most important legislation on this
subject has been for the creation OF the
Forest reserves. These reserves now con-
tain 6o175.765 acres. of which Ii. 7s5. $50 acres
have been added within the last year. The
scientific management and control OF this
vast area will afford ample opportunity
Tor the energies of the officers in charge.
Forests should not be reserved from the
use or man, but for his use. The ripe OF
matured trees should be marketed and the
growing timber carefully preserved. Instead
or the indiscriminate destruction OF all
trees, large and small, the marketable ones
should be so cut and removed as TO leave
the young forest the freest and fullest op-
portunity for rapid growth. These reserves
should be more than self-supporting. They
should yield a revenue over and above the
expense of their care. Such grazing should
be permitted as can be done without detri-
ment 10 the purposes of the reserve
Under wise and prudent forestry there
Is no waste. Ripened trees are removed
and leave space for the younger growth
In natural conditions individual trees die
and are replaced by others. But when our
national forests are rightly administered
eacn year will yield its supply of matured
timber for the use Of the people. Forestry
Is tree farming on a grand scale IL is nc
idle dream. but we may reasonably hone
that In the future the Nations woods will
not only protect the permanence and purity
or the water supply. but will i'm a large de-
gree supply the needs of the people for tim
Der products"
The practice of having an arbor day Is
commencaole. but an active intelligent
state department OF forestry Is one OF the
best aids TO forest conservation.