Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1908-02-07
BZcY M EZE WRGZW /GRzJw

Uncle Sans National Park system
is coming to be quite an elaborate
scheme. In the west and in the east
one after another there are being set
apart sections of country for whose
preservation, because of peculiar
scenic charms or other reason, Uncle
Sam should become special sponsor
and guardian, and Notwithstanding his
multitudinous cares he always cheer
fully assumes the new obligation
which promises to give to the genera
lions yet to be a rich landed heritage.
The latest proposition which has
come before his consideration is that
from the White mountain district,
where it is felt that the forest in
| terests can best be conserved by ma
| king the region a national park, to be
| guarded and developed by the wardens
of Uncle Sans domains. New Hamp-
shire is waking up at last to the de-
molition of her forests. For she has
been hit in very sensitive spot-her
| pocket. The summer tourist traffic
means $8,000,000 year to the hotels
and retreats in the White mountains.
| And the disappearance of the forests
means the disappearance of this traf-
fic.
When the governor of the state
signed the bill disposing of the White
mountains for $4,000 he apologized
for charging so much for them, and he
meant it, but such apology sounds like
variety stage joke to-day, but 1t
wasn't SO then. For all that immense
tract was considered worthless land
In those early days only cleared land
had value. Lumber was not consid-
cred, and doubtless the conscientious
governor who apologized felt as If he
was taking money from child.
For q large number of the 43 years
that have elapsed since then, the policy
of the people of the state in regard to
its forests has been along the same
unappreciative lines. The White
mountains are being ruined as re-
sort, and the forests as future source
of timber and pulp. In places, even
the land is being ruined. Going to de-
struction, too, Is the water power OF
all the large rivers in New England.
L. d. Sherman Of Andover, Mass,
visited the head waters of every large
river last summer and walked through
all that remains of the virgin forests
of New England.
From the top of Mt. Lafayette, In
the Franconia range. he saw five
square miles of forest fire flames
leaping from tree top to tree top and
high toward the heavens. That great
confiagration had been burning 8
month.
Nothing had been done to check it
New Hampshire has no fire patrol sys
\ tenn, such as Maine possesses. Ant
= New Hampshires reason for this lacl
is: 1T isn't doing any damage. onl,
burning over land that has alread.
been logged"
The direct loss Is small perhaps. Blu
!, the indirect loss! The country tina
= was burned was high land. The sum
mers are cool and short, and timbe
grows so slowly that 1t takes 125 year
In this region for spruce to make si'
: inches diameter. The first growtl
. after a fire is the worthless "bir
= | c06Fry. In 10 OF ~ years tnS 6pIuc
;. gets a start In 300 or 400 years.
:. depends on how badly the soil
= burned or washed anywhere Is
s forest of marketable timber.
4. Away up the east branch Of tn
Pemigewasset river, he saw loggin
!. railroad being pushed, as fast as me
could work, into the heart of the VI
2 touched forest. The owners of TIL
n tract are logging summer and winte
and they take out 100000 feet
~ year.
When the loggers get through viii
tract 1t is stripped as bare as I'll
= back OF ones hand. All the big tres
!. are cut for saw logs; all the sma
- stun for pulp, and the hard wood go,
=. for clothes pins.
The lumber kings expect immedia
results from their investments; al
- they get them. But as the lumber err
- Is longer In maturing than ths.9pan