The Colorado statesman., 1922-05-27


discussion.
1t is not intended here to go into
the merits of the present controversy.
1t can be said, however, that forest
conservationists generally believe that
If the bureaL is turned over to an
other department there Is danger that
some of the work of salvation already
done will be undone. This, of course,
Is denied by the parties to the other
end of the controversy.
The forests are worth saving. Most
people want to save them and appar-
emily the only ones who want any
thing else are those who would bene-
fit Immediately in a pecunlary way
from their destruction. The fight to
save the trees has been long, hard
one and those that are left are not
yet well within the field Of assured
safety.
Some pleas for forest preservation
made in congress and In other places
have been In a unique way interest
Ing. Congress has fought OYER the
forests for years, and outside con-
gress the fight has been just as hard
fight is to go on.
Doctor Hale's Plea OF Long Ago.
DR.. Edward Everett Hale, who dur
ing the last years of his life was
chaplain of the senate, was a MEM
Der as boy of biological survey com
pany which went through the forests
and over the mountains of New Hamp-
shire. The expedition went out 81
years ago. In ona of the last let
ters written by the author Of '"The
Man Without a Country" he said:
with these eyes have seen forests
demolished in which were trees CEN
turtles old and where now the region
is given over to sumac and blackberry
bushes. 1t Is no mere matter of
botanical curiosity for which we are
pleading. 1t is the preservation Of
the water supply which affects the six
New England states.
ut also affects the very existence
of whatever makes the region attrac-
tive to persons from every part of
the Union. 1t is easy to see on mere
economic grounds that the destruc-
tion of forests has been the ruin of
many a nation which did not have
wisdom enough to keep them. In our
case the denuding of our mountains
will destroy the noblest and best
grounds for recreation which are now
open to all people east of the Missis-
sippi"
Doctor Hale, when he wrote this let
ter, was pleading for forest reserva-
ton in New Hampshire. Shortly there
after the congress of the United States
by vote which knew no party and
no section decided to take over large
tracts of lands in the eastern noun
tains, North and South, so that at
least part of the forests might be
preserved and YET so the products
thereof still might be put to the use
for which they are intended. In the
forest preserves generally, certainly In
the East, numbering may be carried on
under restrictions, but care is taken
that in the operation no small trees
shall be destroyed. The country may
use its lumber and still have 1t.
Sims on Wood Versus Metal.
Writing of forests naturally sug-
gests the subject of wood. Some time
ago when Thetus Wilrette Sims of
Tennessee was in the lower house
of congress he made an attempt
to secure the continuance of the use
of wooden boxes Instead of metal
ones for the receipt of mail on
the rural routes of the country. Mr..
Sims stood as the champion of the
tree-g grown product, ana while prob
ably his speech was intended to be
more or less light in nature, one ex-
tract from 1t will be remembered to-
day by members of congress. This
was the peroration OF the Sims ad-
dress to the house on the subject of
wooden versus metal mail boxes:
"Mr. Chairman, WOO was used ages
before metal by primitive man. The
human race, as well as the animals
of the earth and the fowls of the
air, were saved from utter extinc-
ton by d wooden box. This box was
water and weather proof as shown by
its remaining in perfect condition and
afloat during the longest spell of rainy
weather and highest waters ever
known.
According to sacred history, the
Son of God was born in wooden
house, laid In wooden receptacle,
and died on a wooden cross; and yet
it is claimed by the Post Office de-
partment that the wooden rural mail
boxes are not good enough for SIM
pie American citizen to use as a re-
ceptacle in which to receive postal
card or a country newspaper"