davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05

timber, mountainous and inhabited by
people who lived largely by agricul-
ture. The demand for wood became
great as the population increased and
the hillsides were denuded. The de-
mand continued and they were stripped
to the soil and with the passing of the
vegetation began the erosion and all
its accompanying disadvantages. On
the steep hillsides there was nothing
to hold back the water when it rained
and no roots to carry it to the ground.
1t ran off rapidly and carried the ex-
time nothing remained on the noun
tainsides but the bare exposed rocks.
The soil has been washed on the
farms below and destroyed them. When
rains fell they rushed in torrents into
the streams and in few days the
rocky hills were as dry as before hav-
ing nothing to hold the moisture. The
streams were torrents today and dry
sand stretches tomorrow.
Further than this the rains became
less frequent. for when there are for
est stretches the cool air rising from
them encounters moisture laden cur
rents above 1t, causing them to pre-
cipitate that moisture. But when hot
air rises from bare rocks the moisture
is dissipated and no rain falls
All these conditions came to pass in
Manchuria, as they will come to pass
anywhere else when the same plan of
operation is followed out. The people
were driven gradually out of the lands
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05
What Roosevelt Said

short sighted persons. or persons
blinded to the future by the 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 forests. 1t Is difa-
cult to have patience with the argu-
ments Of these persons Thanks to
our own recklessness in the use OF our
splendid forests. we have already
crossed the verge OF timber famine
in this country. and no measures that
we can now take. at least for many
years, can undo the mischief that has
already been done. But we can pre-
vent further mischief being done: and
it will be in the highest degree repre-
hensible to let any consideration Of
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action. espe-
cially as regards the national forests.
which the nation can now. at thIs very
moment, control.
''All serious students of the question
are aware of the great damage thas
has been done in the Mediterranean
SO0AtAlcS VI EuEOpes ASIA ana AIrlcA
by deforestation. The similar damags
that has been done in eastern Asia in
less well known What has thus han
pened in northern China. what has
happened in central Asia, In Palestine.
in north Africa. in parts OF the Medi-
terranean countries of Europe. VIII
surely happen in our country II we 90
not exercise the wise forethought
which would be one OF the chief marks
OF any people calling itself civilized.
Nothing should be permitted to stand
in the way OF the preservation OF the
forests. and IL is criminal to permit
individuals to purchase a little gain
for themselves through the destruction
OF forests when this destruction Is
fatal to the well being OF the whole
country in the future"
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05

struction are in this instance. Once
fertile areas. wooded. dense1y inhabit-
ed and productive. are now desert
wastes. and for no other reason than
that the timber has been removed. The
conditions were similar in China few
hundred years ago to those here In
America today, and ATTITUDES, vegeta-
tion and soils were the same. The case
is cited as absolute proof OF what con-
ditions may be expected here II the
forests are not taken care Of 1t IS
held that the men from Missouri"
who refuse to acknowledge the neces-
sity for prompt action in forest pro-
lection. have been shown" The
president further said in his message:
IF there is any one duty which more
than another we owe to our children
and our children,s children to perform
at once it is to save the forests OF this
country. for they constitute the nrst
and most important element In the
conservation Of the natural resources
of the country.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05

= RANK n. MEYER. an intrepid
but obscure explorer OF the de-
partment Of agriculture in far on
China, the SO called "Flowery King
DOM" penetrating to sections never be-
fore seen By white man, suffering hard
ships and dangers that would read like
chapters from the alIuring literature
that IN yellow backs so appeals 70 ad-
vsnturous youth. has finally produced
the facts and proofs OF one Of the
greatest object lessons in the world in
governmental mismanagement. He has
caught and crystaIllzed the narrowing
results OF deforestation.
The people OF China, for many hun
creos OF years. have followed the same
system Of disregard for final conse-
quences OF ruthlessly cutting down
trees that is today being observed in
America, and as a result barren, unin-
habitable wastes extend over a great
portion of the empire, which was once
the scene OF prosperous homes for
millions. Former President Roosevelt
grasped the power OF this object les
son and incorporated parts of Meyers
report and many of his photographs
into his last message to congress. Said
the president:
Mankind Slow to Learn
THE lesson Of deforestation in China
is a lesson which mankind should have
learned many times already from what
has occurred in other places. Denuda-
ton leaves naked soil; then gullying
cuts down to the bare rock. and mean
while the rock waste buries the bot
toln lands. When the soil is gone men
must go; and the process does not take
long.
This ruthless destruction of the for
ests in northern China has brought
about. or has aided In bringing about
desolation, just as the destruction of
the forests in Central Asia. and is
bringing ruin TO the once rich central
Asian cities; just as the destruction of
toward the ruin OF region that was
a fertile granary in Roman days. Short
sighted man. whether barbaric, semi
the forests in northern Africa helped
civilized, or what he mistakenly re-
CARDS as fully civilized, when he has
destroyed the forests. has rendered
certain the ultimate destruction OF the
land itself Not only .>ave the forests
been destroyed. but because of their
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05
OF E4EES rs E0IlTO m S0ZZE =

cutting of timber which covers the
dead will call down upon the person
guilty the vengeance of all the gods
he swears by. Throughout the empire
there are monasteries surrounded by
burying places and on most of them
there are trees. There are the two
sacred mountains, the Tai-shan in Shan
tung and the wu-tai-shan in Shansi.
On these the trees are also held sacred.
Yet in the face of the great religious
fear there is the greatest difficulty on
the part of the old priests having them
In charge in preventing the destruc-
tion of and carrying away Of the trees.
The tree robbers in these sections have
become notorious. The manner Of
these robbers is to so damage the trees
is the excuse for cutting them down.
and the superstition does not apply to
dead trees. Throughout these sacred
forests there is evidence of deliberate
damage being constantly done trees in
order that they will die and may be
then cut down.
Meyer reports having visited the
graveyard of the family of Confucius
at Chefu and to have observed the
manner in which workmen had caused
the death of a huge oak near the tomb
of the great philosopher. He saw one
of these men strip piece of bark off
the tree He examined it and found
that such a strip had evidently been
removed every day for months. In this
method a strip around the tree three
feet wide was being made with the
evident intent OF killing the tree. The
object was almost accomplished at the
time.
Killing Royal Grove Trees
little later at the eastern tombs.
where is the mausoleum in which rests
the remains of the late empress dow
ager. Meyer found that great pieces
had been cut out of trees in such a
way that they would die. He even
found some men and boys uprooting a
small tree, and when he asked them
for their permits they took to their
heels and ran, not even stopping for
their coats.
The scarcity of timber and the hard
ships suffered for the lack OF 1t are re-
sponsible for this disregard for even
religion in procuring few sticks OF
timber. The industries OF China are
sadly held back because of lack of it.
The mines can not be worked because
there is no material with which TO
timber them. Railroads can not be
built as there is no wood to be had for
ties. Every stick OF timber that is
used must be imported from the out
side. and while a few western COM
panies are profting hugely the natives
are suffering.
Matters as they exist in China are
an absolute condition There is moth
ing of theory or speculation as to what
the results of policy OF forest de-
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05

in which they had formerly lived in
plenty and consumed more timber
stretches as they went and the desert
followed them. Today it has stretched
half way across the empire and is still
marching on.
Destruction Is Recent
Much of this destruction is suffi-
GENTLY modern as to be recorded by men
from the western nations who have
travelled in China. When Marco Polo
visited China in medieval times, he
wrote of journeys in boats on streams
that are now entirely dried up. The
known to be drying up and men alive
today tell of its former glory when 1T
ran always full of crystal water, On
the trip between Peking and Jehol
there is every evidence of the fact
that the forests have but recently
passed and conversation with the ma
tives brings out the fact that but 80
and 40 years ago there were waving
forests on these hillsides. The con-
ditions of many of the streams that
once teemed with industry is becon-
ing appalling.
The people are all the time being
concentrated more and more In the
lowlands and along the coasts and
numbers that were before overpower-
ing have become so great that famine
is a thing that can. with difficulty, be
avoided. The death fros~. starvation
of many. thousands of y~ within the
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05


sequence is that It is impossible now
to undo the damage that has been
done. Many centuries will have to
pass before soil will again collect. or
could be made to collect in sufficient
quantity once more to support the old
time forest growth. In consequence,
the Mongol desert is practically ex-
tending eastward over northern China.
The climate has changed and Is still
changing. 1t has changed even within
the last half century, as the work of
tree destruction has been consum-
mated
Meyer, who was recently in San
Francisco, brings the conditions very
directly home by his first hand de-
scriptions of conditions. In speaking
of the barrenness of the populous en-
pire he said:
No Forests Remain
Wherever one turns his eyes in
China in search of forests he meets
nothing but disappointment for. gem
orally speaking, there are no forests
left. Yet in days gone by that glori-
Gus land, with climate and soils re-
markably similar to our own, was COW
cred with timber and with woods of
which it is hard nowadays to form any
adequate comprehension. But the rem
nants are there yet. and these last
survivals serve us, like rudimentary
organs of animals, TO draw up the
whole map as it once must have been.
ITO realize what the extremes are
to which the destruction of the forests
have driven the people one has only
to go to the immediate neighborhood
of any of the cities or villages and
observe how every blade of grass and
every stick is cut by the knife. Every
leaf even is gathered and carried away
to be used as fuel and men, boys and
women toll patiently to collect the
smallest twigs, often having to tramp
many miles from their homes to get
even this poor fuel, and laboriously
carry it back again on their backs
"This very same process on greater
scale has been the system by which
China has. been deforested. The people
have always gone freely into the woods
and cut and slashed without regard to
the future, and all the timber has been
destroyed. Many years ago they fell
upon the old stumps and roots and
these have been grubbed out far under
ground. Not a vestige of tree is left
when the crying demand for wood has
worn itself out"
With the beginning of this tree de-
struction what is now the Manchurian
desert was a thickly inhabited body
of land, well watered. covered with
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
ARE MARRIED
At HIGH NOON
Pretty Wedding at the
Welch Home.
Miss Trcssic Cleo Wclch Becomes the
Wife of Charles II. NiNon-BOtlI
Quite Prominent.

At the home of the brides mother,
Mrs. Lillian Welch, Of No, 272 Boul-
cvard, at high noon Thursday, Miss
II essie cleo Welch and Mr., Charles
Henry Nixon were united in marriage.
Rev Clarence Il, Miller, pastor of
the Central Christian church, per-
formed the ceremony, which was
simple and beautiful.
Both the bride and groom are we'll
known young people of Marion. The
former has for some time been em-
pioyed in the dry goods store of Uhiel
and Phillips and there she has mado
host of friends The groom is the
son of Mrs. George Shade, of Wal
bridge, and is employed as IA machine
list by the Marion Steam Shovel COM
pany The bride is a member of a
number of local clubs and societies
and Is very popular socially while tho
groom Is prominent in local lodge
circles
This evening at o'clock, Mr. and
Mrs Nixon will leave for Cincinnati
on short honeymoon, after which
they will make their home in this city,
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
IN the course OF an interesting scs,
sion held last evening.

The Elks have experienced not a
little difficulty IN securing sufficient
rabbits to provide a roast for their
big meeting to take place this even
ing, The hunters who visited the field
last Monday were either not expert
marksmen or else the hare managed
to keep out of sight.
A number OF the antlered tribe
lett early Thursday morning for the
fields where the rabbit is said to be
plentiful and 1t is expected that they
will shoot enough to provide for the
feast. There is one thing certain, the
Elks will have a rabbit roast tonight
and there will be enough to go around
The committee III charge of the ban
quet this evening is composed of Mes
srs William Hoverstott, A. G. Hol-
land and j. Wilbur Jacoby.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
Citizens Must Donate Site
For Building.
STATE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE
$4,000 For Building if Site
is Given.
Company ID Enjoys Banquet and Is
Informed OF the Coming OF q Itegu-
lar Army Officer To Conduct n
School. "

A movement for u new armory for
Marion. home FOR Company u,
Fourth o. n. c.. was commenced last
evening at Il banquet given in the
club rooms of the company after prac-
tico drill. The prime mover in the
project is Captain Il. o. Richardson
and his fellow officers and tho men
In his command have promised their
aid.
Under the new law there will he
available on January T. 1909, $4,000
for armories for every company in the
state. The law carries with IL q pro-
viso that every city in which a COM
pany of the guard Is located must do.
Ep.tc the ground on which the building
Is TO be erected.
Captain Richardson Is not very
sanguinc of getting the city of Ma
ron to donate the ground for the
armory. but he Is very hopeful of Sc
curing help from htc Commercial
cub and from the business men In
general and those Interested In Ma
rion,s bcttcrment. TO arouse this
interest In the protect. II was an
nounced last night that IL sufficient
biouHu is SeCurcu Tor the armOry a
building to cost not less than SIS. 900
VIII be erected. This viii contain
IN addition to drill rooms. company
quarters and club room, a large hall
In which public gatherings OF every
Kind may be held--somcthing that is
badly needed in the city DR.. Rich
| ardson is receiving many offers of os-
Stance in securing the necessary
ground for the armory and Il is prob.
able that within few weeks meet
Inc viii be called ut the Commercial
club and the project formally taken
up and considered.
The banquet last evening was a
rather elaborate and appetizlng one.
II was prepared by the company cook,
Mr.. Edscll. Afterward while cigars
we're passed around. Captain Richard :
son and others OF the officers gave
short talks
IL was announced that one of the
regular army sergeants sent into Ohio
10 instruct the National Guard In reg
ular army tactics. will attend the next
drill and conduct school of in
struction.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

Busines OF special Importance to
the members will be taken up at a
meeting of Marion Commandery No.
80 knight Templars this evening.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

os the Knight Templars went to Co.
lumbus this morning to attend the
Scottish Rite meeting being held al
that place this week, The meeting
was opened Wednesday morning and
will continue over Friday.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

The Pythian Sisters conducted "A
delightful social in Canbs hall on East
Church street last evening. The
guests numbering about one hundred,
assembled in the hall at o'clock and
the hours until midnight We're passed
at dancing, cards and other diver
slons. Dowler's two piece orchestra
furnished the music. An elegant
luncheon served at 10 o'clock was a
feature worthy of mention.
The success of the function was
largely due to the efforts OF Mrs.
Frank Moss. Mrs. ]. j. Rudolph. Mrs
Frank Ritshaupt and Mrs. Emma Me-
CLAIM. ffE
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
POLICE NEWS

Charged with lntoxlcation and cre-
ating a disturbance on an interurban
train, Edward Smith was arrested by
Fatrolman Bell early last evening.
The affidavit preferrlng the charges
was filed by Ray oswald. secretary
to the receivers of the c.. ID. and NJ.
Smith had been in Bucyrus and
was returning on the o'clock car,
when the bad booze began to work.
His conduct became disgraccful. and
he was arrested Immediately upon the
arrival of the car In mayors court
Thursday morning he pleaded guilty
and was fined 81 and costs, aggre-
eating in all to SO so He was also
instructed TO scrub the floor Of the
lnterurban car.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
j. o. SMELTZER
DIES IN LOS ANGELES
Former Marion County Man Passc,
Away In Golden State.

NJ. Waddell received message this
morning that John a. Smeltzer, a
former resident of this county. died
last night at Los Angeles. California.
Mr. Smcltzer was born In West
morcland county. Pa, February 1,
1881, and came to this county when
young man. He married Mary NJ
Redd OF this county. December 81.
1873. There were four children born
OF this union, only one of whom sur
vive. Grover. now young man. the
others dying In infancy.
Mr. Smeltzer resided south of Mar
ion until five years ago, when. owing
to failing health, he moved to Los
Angeles, whore he has since resided
Mr.. Smeltzer was a staunch Demo
crat and was always. while a residen,
of this county. deeply interested In
local affairs of that party, and will be
well remembered by the older resi-
dents. especially of Marion and
Pleasant townships.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

char@ WikoM of sqjoto ! street,
whb gasc himself hprso shes1 police,
Tuesday, entered plea of guilty TO
a charge of jumping board bilJ
which. lwasl preferred In an affidavit
n.ed by a. j. Jordan, He was also
wanted by the bnn,aDv, lsocIety,
Mayor Scherff imposed ninety
DAY work house sentence but sust
pended II upon Wilson's promise to
go back and live with his wife and
10 pay UP his debts. bi(A
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
1omorroM 9nl,d shinrday

we viii start sacrificing all manner OF
seasonablc new goods, to make room
for the inpourlng Christmas lines.
Turn to the remarkable values fea-
turcd on page tonight.
Uhler-Phillips.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
LAY IN YOUR POTATOES.

We are selling choice white pota.
toes In 3 and 10 bushel lots at 6Oc
per bushcl. Phone 81.
r1-l6-3t CHAS. TURNER e. co.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

Fine lot of potatoes for winter us,
we can sell YOU in 8 or 10 bushcl lots
at G0c. Wouldn't 1t be well to buy
while they are cheap?
l1-16-3t CHAS TURNER & co
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

Canton Marion, |. O.. o. #, transact
ed regular business and arranged to
nominate officers at the next meeting
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18
LODGE NOTES

The l.. ID. G. A. held an interest
Ing meeting at the home of Mrs. Ed
Fergus of North State street Wednes-
day evening. There was large at
tendance and business Of Importance
was given attention. Election OF Of
fccrs win be taken up at the next
upon the second Thursday
Df December. ~ }fj. h .tti
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-18

There was a large attendance at
the regular meeting of the Fraternal
Order of Eagles which was held in
the lodge hail on East Center street
last evening. Aside from transacting
regular business, arrangements were
made for holding a social next We'd
nesday evening which will be proceed
ed by the nomination of officers.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-09-29
From Pamsay's Creek.

Ramsay's Creek, Sept. 27.-Spe-
cial: Our people are about through
gathering fodder. and now the task
Of picking cotton is on. Some say
crops are very short. That is true
in some respects, but I think we
should look on the bright side of
the picture when opportunity gives
us chance.
Our sweet potato crop is bumper
this time. SO If old Pete knocks at
the door just lam him in the head
with 'tater and maybe Ire will
learn how to keep his nose out of
other folks business thereafter.
w. n. Long has purchased Tract
Of land on Chauga and he expects
to build and move there soon.
Armenium and Sam Clark have
just completed large barn on their
land below here. They expect to
build a nice residence in the near
future. These boys are hustlers, and
we bespeak for them much success.
The school at Cross Roads closed
Friday. Miss Rena Hunsinger, the
teacher, has given the best Of salts
faction.
Mrs. J. S. Floyd and son, Stewart,
VIII move away at ali early date.
We regret to lose these good people
from our vicinity, but wish for them
success In their future home. ID.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-09-29
Dr. Kings New Life pills
The best in the world.
TWO KILLED IN AUTO WRECK.
John McLcndOn and Viola Herman
Burned to Death.

Americus, Ga, Sept. 24.-Pinned
beneath big burning touring auto
mobile, which q few seconds before
had plunged OF an S-foot embank-
ment while driven at terrific rate
Of speed, John McLendon, a promi-
nent young business man and a bank
clerk of this place, and Viola Her.
man were instantly killed, and Ethel
Hill, another member Of the party,
severely burned at 2 o'clock this
morning.
The dead woman's neck was
broken and death resulted instantly.
McLendon was not killed outright,
but died In horrible agony beneath
the flaming machine. The bodies of
the two victims were consumed by
the flames from their waists to their
feet.
Ethel Hill, the young woman who
was severely burned, although suf-
fering great pain, ran for two miles
through the dark to Americus and
told the story. Physicians who an
swered the alarm hurried immedi-
ately to the scene, but the bodies had
already been burned beyond recog-
milton.