The Cairo bulletin., 1905-03-18
MOVEMENT FOR SCIENTIFIC
FORESTRY IN ILLINOIS.
An Open Letter to the Citizens. the
Law Makers and the Editors Of
Illinois.

The Illinois Federated Women
clubs-a federation OF PCS clubs with
membership of over 25.00o-has
taken up with serious earnestness the
practical question Of scientific forest
ny in Illinois. and with that end in
view has prepared and introduced in
the Illinois assembly three forestry
bills one of these proposed laws
provides for a chair of forestry in the
State University Of Illinois. another
for the organization and maintenance
of state forestry commission. ap-
pointed by the governor from selec,
tions made by the Farmers institute
the Illinois Nurserymeu association.
the State Agricultural society. the
State Horticultural ociety and the
chair e forestry of the State uniyer.
sity The third bin provides for the
purchase of a pine tract In Ogle coun
ty.
Many states have long since taken
mp this very important question and
have fully organized and equipped
forestry departments, but in Illinois
the matter has until now been entire.
ly neglected. and il has remained for
our federation to take the initial step.
With The object of stimulating
thought and creating sentiment upon
this all-important subject. the FEEDER.
alton desires to call the publie's al,
tentiOn to some well established facts
showing The results OF forest destrue
ton IN
Physical history records ana exist.
ing conditions prove beyond dispute,
that the richest lands in The world
become in the course of centuries bar.
rem sterile deserts when entirely de.
nuded CT forests. trees and shrubbery
In India vast areas which are now
treeless arid waste without yer.
dure without moisture, without fer.
Unity, where midas starving millions
ele cut most wretched existence.
was cnce rich and fertile until the for.
ests were destroyed.
Let us quote briefly from that emf.
nenf traveller and authority. DR.. Fe
Tx l.. Oswald, who writes: The eli,
matte history Of the Old World will
repeat Itself in America. II forest
destruction. al IT'S present rate OF
reeklessness, shoald continue much
onger our continent will have 10 dry
up. But the fact remains ana its
significance may be inferred from the
experience of the Mediterranean coast
lands. whore thousands Of sod.gar.
lens have been turned into Gehennas
u Wretchedaees and desOlarlon. By
rec destruction alone a territory Of
100000 square miles has been with.
irawn from the habitable area Of our
'lanet The physical history of our
eastern hemisphere is the history of
desert that originated somewhere
.ear the cradle Of the Caucasian
ace-in Bactria. parhaps-and
preading westward and southwark
la5 blighted the Eden CT three cont.
.ents Ike a deyouring fire and is now
corching the west coast of Africa
nd sending its warning sand clouds
ar our TO seward"
There is scarcely physical evil
With naturally resultant moral and so.
ial evils-to mankind which does not
n due time follow the total destruc.
ion Of forests. The absence of for.
Sis makes climate colder in winter
nd hotter in summer; it robs the at
losphere of the humidity necessary
D all human and vegetable life: II
ries up The streams and lakclets /
eaVing neither shelter or water for
irds. and their disappearance Is fol- /
jwed by insect pests: when he rains
ono they sweep the fertile soil once
ED by roots and moisture into the /
lrrents of the Intermittent streams .
nd carries il to the deltas Of the 4
reat rivers. bringing destruction and
isaster TO the lowlands, and leaving
le highlands. hills and valleys
esert
Thinking ana observing men. know
g the physical history of older set
ed continents, stand in amazemen5
I'd establishment and well night hor
II. that in this advanced and educat
! country We should not heed the
rrible lessons of the Old World in
lis vital matter. but ignorantly ruth
ssly and reckiessly allow the de.
ruction of our fertile lands and sa-
hrious climate. making no govern
eut objection and providing for no
.ientifie REIMBURSEMENT, while many /