The Glenwood post., 1908-01-11
LET US ALL BE FORESTERS.

LET US ALL BE FORESTERS.
Within a house built mostly Of
pine and hemlock timber a man
will sit in hickory chair, smok-
ing briar root pipe. with his feet
on an oak table surrounded by
wooden furniture of various kinds
and will glance up from the wood
pulp newspaper on his knees to
inform you that the forestry ques-
ton has no interest for him what
ever! In fact, most of us think
that the only persons who have
any real occasion to be interested
in the preservation of the forests
are nature students, sportsmen,
and saw mill operators. But, as
matter of truth, every citizen.
without regard to his work, color
or creed is dependent upon the
forest for a very large share OF
both the necessities and the lux,
uries of his life. And in twenty
years there will be no forests left
in this country 1t is idle for any.
one who expects to live twenty
years longer, to say that the for
estry question has no interest for
him, for without the woodlands
the human race cannot live and
flourish.
We are children of the forest
and as we venture forth from the
shadow of the trees. we court .pov,
erty, thirst, famine, premature
death. Should all the woodlands
he swept from the earth tomor-
row, the human race would die
off like flies before he first frost
of winter. For the forest is man,
kind S great storehouSe. reservoir
and sanitarium. We could live
and enjoy life to certain extent
minus iron and gold, but without
the trees we should perish. There
fore. all friends of humanity. al!
opponents Of race suicide. all so
biologists and reformers are for
CStCIS. " HclHtl tllt,N dIt CollSt'ottN
of the fact or not. for just about
everything that makes life worth
living comes out of the woods.
Trees Purify Air.
The tree is the greatest air puri-
fer in nature, absorbing the poi
sonous carbonic acid gas which
our lungs throw off and giving ii
back to us in the form of health
full ozone. In the city, trees pre-,
vent the spread of disease by col.
lecting and holding germ-laden
particles of dust which fill the air
If people would plant trees, espe-
cially conifers, about their dwell
lings, and then leave their Win
dows open, consumption would
decrease so per cent. Trees pre-
vent sudden changes in the atmos-
phere. They are also the best
wind and storm barriers known,
and the only sure preventive of
floods and freshets.
What is needed is great wave
Of public sentiment, demanding
that the national. state and mu-
nicipal governments acquire the
few remaining forests and instl
tute scientific and conservative
methods in their management.
such as will guaratee to all the
people a permanent wood supply,
pure water, adequate rainfall, and
wildwood retreats where the dis
eased may retire to find health
and peace of mind.
In Theodore Roosevelt we are
fortunate in having at last a ma
tional executive who thoroughly
understands the forestry question
and can be relied upon to do all
in his power to save the trees
from the insatiate nav Of capital.
ism. And every citizen should
lend the president his co-opera
ton in gaining this end. All OF
the days of spring and early sum
mer should be Arbor days, dedi-
Gated to the planting of new trees
Thus would we not only beautify
the landscape and temper the at
.mosphere. but also increase our
natural assets hundred-fold.
Porasta in EurOrA