Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-11
TALK VS.. FORESTS


Nero fiddled while Rome was burning.
American statesmen talk while the for
ests are disappearing.
In the Senate discussion on national
forestry, Mr.. Teller declared that he
knew that the forestry division spends
thousands and thousands Of dollars in
a propaganda IN the interest of reser-
vations.
They employ people In the colleges"
he said. "and I can see no service they
can render except to influence opinion
In favor of the forestry SERVICE"
MIR. Culberson then asked whether the
Senator charged that the department of
agriculture had hired professors and
school teachers for their influence.
II said that was my inference" re
sponded Mr.. Teller. 1.-THE department
had a propaganda all over the
country advocating forest reservations
and in my judgment they Were on
the payroll for that purpose"
Mr.. Teller spoke of receiving letters
fayoring forest reserves and added that
ho believed these letters were prepared
by somebody connected with the de-
partment.
Senator Teller imagines from the
character and amount of the arguments
he hears and the letters he receives in
behalf OF preserving the national for
ests that these arguments and letters
must have been prepared by the agr-
cultural department and that the edu-
Gated classes Of the country must have
been hired TO present those letters and
arguments
But there is a much easier way Of
accounting for the numerous and fore
ible arguments now made in behalf OF
forestry by the college professors and
other educated people OF this country.
And that is that tho nation is facing
timber famine, while no very thorough
going efforts are as yet being made by
either the states or the national Con-
gross to remedy the enormous waste
and destruction of the forests. or 10
make good the annual losses and dimi-
mutton of the timber resources, and SO
to avert the impending calamity.
Senators may Jeer at the forestry
movement and may find fault with such
small efforts az are even now being put
forth by the government i'm order 10
protect and renew the remaining for
est trees OF America; but no amount
of clever ridicule, OF specious argu-
ment. or of ingenious sophistry can
serve TO mask or return the actual con-
ditlons that confront this country in re-
latlon to its vanishing supply Of tim
Der.
Az the present rate OF destruction,
actual scarcity Of lumber win be felt
within a decade, even II it is not al
ready experienced or at least apparent.
In thirty years the demand for timber
az compared with thc supply remaining
In this country, win amount to an act
ual wood famine In less than half
century the forests viii have disap-
poared such, at least. Is our reoolec-
ton OF the facts collected by expert tes-
timony, and MAYER seriously controyert-
ed or successfully disputed.
No. the arguments and letters from
teachers and the Intelligent citizens. the
newspaper warnings from practically
the entln, press OF the country. and,
more patent than anything else. the
enormous increase in recent years in
the price OF lumber--th9se facts are not
due 90 the "hiring" of persons 20 pro-
sent arguments In favor OF the intolll-
gent care of the forests 1t Is a condl-
ton and not hired argument" that
really confronts the Senators whom they
face the timber situation Of the entire
country and the food conditions of
great sections OF e. By all means save
the Senators, II possible, from further
bombardment With facts and argu-
mants, but also save the country from
ireparahlo injury, In the movement
towards safeguarding the greatest ana
most remarkable Of our national assets
1.-The forests, which have been the
pride Tho wonder. ana Inc wealth OF