Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-12-08

4 IOreStS OF tnlS country, Tor they con-
stitute the firs. and most important
element in the conservation of the
natural resources of the country.
There are of course two kinds OF
natural resources Just as n farmer,
after all his life making his living
from his farm. will. IL he is an ex-
4 pert farmer, leave Il as an asset of
increased value to his son. so we
should leave our national domain to
our children. increased in value and
not worn out There are small sec
tions of our own country, In the east
and in the west. I'm the Adirondacks.
| the White mountains. and the Appa-
| lachians, and in the Rocky noun
tains. where we can already see for
ourselves the damage In the shape
oi permanent injury TO the soil and
| the river systems which comes from
reckless deforestation.
Short-sighted perso<s, or persons
| blinded TO the future by desire To
| make money In every way out OF
the present. sometimes speak as II
no great damage would be done by
| the reckless destruction of our for
ests. II Is difficult to have patience
with the arguments of these persons.
| Thanks to our own recklessness In
the use of our splendid forests. we
have already crossed the verge of n
| timber famine In this country, and
no measures that we now take can,
at least for many years. undo the
mischief that has already been done.
All serious students of the dues-
| tion are aware OF the great damage
that has been done In the Medlterran-
can countries of Europe. Asia and
Africa by deforestation. A recent
Investigation into conditions Ia Norm
China by Frank N. Meyer. OF the
bureau OF plant industry OF the Unit
ed States department of agriculture.
has incidentally furnished In very
Istriking fashion proof of the ruin that
comes from reckless deforestation of
mountains and OF the further fact
that the damage once done may prove
practically irreparable. So important
are these Investigations that | here
with attach as an appendix TO my
message certain photographs showing
present conditions In China. They
show In vivid fashion the appalling
desolation, taking the shape OF bar
rem mountains and gravel and sand
covered plains, which Immediately
follows and depends upon the defor-
estation of the mountains Not many
centuries ago the country OF northern
China was one OF the most fertile
and beautiful spots In the entire
world. and was heavily forested. We
know ths not only from the old Chi
nese RECORDS. but from the accounts
given by the traveller. Marco Polo.
He. for instance. mentions that In
visiting the provinces OF Shansi and
Shensl he observed many plantations
OF mulberry trees. Now there IL
hardly single mulberry tree In eth
or OF these provinces, and the cul-
ture of the silkworm has moved far
ther south. To regions of atmospheric
moisture. As an illustration OF the
complete change In the rivers. we
may take Polo's statement that a
certain river, the Hun Ho. was no
large and deep that merchants as
cended Il from the sea with heavily
laden boats. today this river is sim
lply broad, sandy bed, with shall
low, rapid currents wandering hitheI
and thither across II, absolutely un-
navigable. but we do not have "a
depend upon written records. The
dry wells. and the wells with water
far below the former wntermark bear
testimony to the good days OF the
past and the evil days OF the present
Wherever the native vegetation has
been allowed TO remain, an. for In
stance here and there around a ga
cred temple or imperial buryng
ground. there are still huge trees
and tangled Jungle. fragments OF the
glorious ancient forests.
In the total absence OF regulation
OF the matter In the interest OF the
whole people. each small group n
Inevitably pushed into policy OF
destruction which cannot afford 10
take thought for the mCNJow. This
is Just one OF those matters which
IL is fatal to leave 90 unsuperyisod
individual control. The foyests eau
only be protected hy the state. by
the nation: and the liberty OF action
OF individuals must be conditioned
upon what the state or nation deter.
mines to be necessary for the com
mon safety.
ne lesson OF deforestation ia
China N lesson which mankind
should have learned many times al
ready frOm what hae occurred Ia
other places. nenudation leaves
naked soil; then outlying cuts dowr
20 the hare rock. and meanwhile the
rock waste hurios tho bottomlands
When the soil II gone, men must go
and the process dooa not take long
What has thus happeaed la north
ern China, what has happened Ia
Central Asia, la Paleatine. In Norti
Africa. In parts at the Mediterranean
countries OF Europe. will surely hap
pen in our country II we do not ex
ercise That wise fOrethongh which
should be- one OF the chief marks O
any people calling itself civilized
Nothing should be permitted 10 stanS
In the way Of the preservation Of th'
forests, and Il is criminal Ia permi
individuals 10 purchase a little gaiI
for themselves through tho destruc
| tiOu of fOreata when this destruction