Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-15

49,
litician's promise, and In some OF It's
benefits quite as ephemeral, In It's
practical application II has been known
TO propose the conservation OF that
which does not exisct; and In It's mag
nincent schemes Of economy II sug-
gests that we be denied a thing OF
value now 80 as TO be able at Il later
date TO expect something we may not
get; or It may be llkened to an an
clent definition OF faith-the substance
Of things hoped for, the evidence OF
things not seen. II not only reminds
US OF present Ills, by erecting an i'm
penetrable array Of barb wire fences
around them; II also herds us along to
other Ills that TIL now we knew not
of, and IN order to hasten our acqualnt-
anoe with these, thoughtfully greases
the track for the occasion.
WORTHY OF SERIOUS THOUGHT.
And yet the matter OF forest pre-
seryatlon, nationally considered, ls
worthy OF serious and dIgnihed
thought. The objects Of these re-
serves are two-fold. First, To furnish
timber from lands which are not suited
to the production OF q more valuable
crop; second, To regulate the flow OF
water by shading the ground from the
sun and shielding It's surface from the
drying action OF the wind, as we'll as
keeping the soil perviOus and protect
ing II from washing away,
These purposes are in the highest
degree commendable. Certainly II he
who causes two blades Of grass to
grow where but one grew before is
TO be deemed a benefactor, Infinitely
worthier of the title Is he who pro-
notes the growth OF that mysterious
and lovely evidence OF Natures power
"A living tree. As TO the regulation
| of the 1ow OF water, with all that
pertalns to that great problem. we or
the arid regions have naturally
| and of necessity the p~rofoundest inter-
est in whatsoever tends TO improve
ment: for in a truly literal sense water
IL with us the life blood OF existence,
the indispensable element without
which our prosperity would vanish, our
smiling commonwealth become a desert
waste and the fresh and blooming race
OF nature instantly assume the wlther-
| ed. wrinkled, ~llfeless mask Of d%esolation
and decay. We are peculiarly alert,
| therefore. TO the benefits which every
one must recognize as the Legitimate
result OF the protection and propagation
of forest. We have associates whose
sole purpose Is 10 encourage and fos-
ter and watch these interests, In no
state is Arbor day more enthuslastical-
ly observed, in no community Is the
value of tree lie more deeply Impress
ed upon young and old than with us.
We even try to deny ourselves Christ
mas trees, lest by the wanton cutting
down OF young timber. our already
| scantily clothed hillsides be stu fur-
Their denuded.
our incorporated towns and cities are
vigllant In securing and maintaining
the watersheds from which their sup
ply OF the life.giying fluid Is obtained,
and in preserving from spollation what
ever Of timber growth those watersheds
| may stlll be adorned With. We not only
want to preserve all the trees we now
have; we also endeayor to increase the
present supply by constant replanting
and the most judicious watchcare In
such localities as promise even remote
prospects OF success. Hence we are,
and ought TO be, firm friends OF the
government forest reserve idea-with
certain important limitations.
SOME FIGURES.
| beg YOU to indulge me while ! quote
n few stobborn figures. ] have the
honor TO represent a state, which upon
It's admission 20 the Union received In
grants from the public domain some
thing like 6,5OO,O 900 acres OF land, the
proceeds from the sale Of which are TO
be applied to the support Of the public
schools and the maintenance OF other
state institutions. and thus indirectly,
although In fact very directly, LESSEN
ing the burdens Of the taxpayer. Selec-
lions and sales Of these lands were pro-
crossing with gratifying celebrity. Sat
lsfaction and benefit were flowing 20 all
concerned, New homes were being es-
tablished, the promise OF plente0us
prosperity beamed from every side, and
not a cloud appeared upon the fair hor-
lion OF our hope for future increase In
wealth, population and happlnefs-
when suddenly, as a thunderbot
crashing out from n clear sky
came forth the edict that certain OF
the public lands were withdrawn from
entry. selection, settlement or sale. The
first announcement OF details on this
subject was so stuDendous as TO stag
ger the steadlest OF us. IL was pro-
posed, In O word, to slice out for a for.
est reserve the entire length Of our
chief mountain chain from Idaho on the
north TO almost Arizona on the south,
n stretch OF nearly 300 miles. nesting at
the base OF which IN fact were nearly
all our largest cities, our greatest ru-
raj population, and our most important
industries. About 5000 900 acres, ac-
cordIng to this colossal idea, were 10 be
swooped up at one grand swallow A
natural inquiry with some Of US was
whether II was worth while TO attempt
the further operation Of the state gov
eminent with all these millions OF de-
sirable lands taken away, or whether
II might not be better after all 10 Yield
up ,hc empty shell and semblance stu
remaining and turn over to the forest
supervisors the conduct OF whatsoever
state business wal still left 10 be done,
Our minds reverted TO tho experience
OF ,he summer picnlcker, who, upon
proceeding to eat his lunch, found II 70
filled with ants that he did not know
whether 10 pick the ants out OF the
lunch or the lunch out OF the ants, aud
finally compromised by throwing the
whole unlnyltlng mess Into the creek,
GROWS SARCASTIC,
A second thought developed the FUR