The new South-news., 1908-06-20
THE APPALACHIAN BILL,


And otner Aspects Of the Nssd ~ Z
Radical Policy In Forestry.
II the work OF saving the forests-
Or what is let, OF them by the ignor-
ance and rapacity OF corporate and
private oxnership--is TO be ~ on
foot. once for all. without false starts
II must be undertaken not only In
patriotic spirit. but with imagina-
ton. II is easy to learn what has been
wasted In the century past-public re-
sources probably sufncient TO have
made It unnecessary for any American
citizen to have paid a cent OF tax.
What 10 needed, is to project the mind
nifty years ahead. to consider the prob
lem In the light OF the enormous for
elgn population that Is coming to us
and learning from us CHASTITY \lessons
Of laissez- -faire--a policy which mat
tiers OF forestry their own q
ments have learned through disas
experience to abandon
There are unmistakable signs OF =
reaction In the excessibe individualism.
the go-as-you please, every-man-for-
himself. I-may-do o-what-Iwish-with-
my-own views OF life. A new spirit is
upon US, with a new definition OF en-
inent domain, enlarging its scope to the
control OF private interests that exist
TO the injury OF the public. This Is
not socialism in the violent sense OF
the word: rightly conceived, 1t 10 a
new sense OF brotherhood. Its prin-
ciple is. "You ought not to get yo,Ar
| happiness at the expense OF your fell
low men" II does not point to con-
fiscation; on the contrary. 1t promises
/ to supply a working substitute for an
archy. 1t may easily be misapplied or
carried too far But 1t Is not more
dangerous than certain false methods
OF corporate ownership and the equal
ly tyrannical excess OF trade unionism,
which together have created SO much
OF the new social unrest The trend
of progress points to more excellent
way.
the forestry question: Why should
owners OF enormous tracts OF mountain
forests be permitted to denude them 10
the manifest injury Of the agriculture,
navigation and commerce OF the val
leys and streams which they supply?
We are accustomed to think OF nature
as a dominating force, whereas. its
modification by human action is the
most constant OF phenomena. The life
OF man has been described as substan-
TALLY warfare against the animals.
against his fellows, and against the
face of nature. 1t is the business OF
government not to promote, but to re-
strict this warfare. as It has done in
the reservation of western forests-one
Of the most important notes OF pro-
gress the country has struck since the
civil war. 1t Is the Office of the wise
not only to protect the weak against
the strong but to protect the foolish
from themselves.
There are signs that in this matter
other countries are awake to their
peril and responsibilities British Co.
lumbia 10 taking Time by the forelock.
and. by a sweeping act. reserving for
governmental control every acre OF
forest land not already leased. Colom-
bia In South America. has also passed
new forest laws in keeping with in
telligent modern public opinion. The
conference cannot directly legislate,
but its recommendations and influence
ought to shape a policy Of cooperation
between the nation and the states
along uniform lines. The Appalachian
bill is a step in the right direction.
and ought to be enacted. but we must
go farther, considering the forests OF
the country. with all due respect to
private ownership a heritage OF pos
terity.
An important and cQpmendabls step
has just been taken W the state Of
New York in the purchase Of Mount
Marcy and other peaks of the Adiron-
dacks at the very headwaters OF the
Hudson. This policy should at once
be continued until the reservation
reaches Its maximum extent. Then
the whole tract should be administered
under a system which, while guaran-
teeing private rights, will give the
state supervision OF the cutting OF
trees. The public health, the interests
OF agriculture. commerce and naviga-
ton In New York and Pennsylvania
call immediate consideration to the
whole subject. BE wise in time: til
madness to defer From an editorial
In The Century.
knau. his R;>L~-.