The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-08-06

M onificent growth of trees. The large trees
had been cut away for lumber purposes and the
smaller trees had been cut down to be used as
mine props Then the fire swept over the land
and destroyed the remaining vegetation, follow
ed by floods that took the fertile top soil. He
told me that just three families exist in this
whole township of 10000 acres, and he went out
across this land looking for other signs OF life
He said. 81 could not find bird and not even
rabbit" So the destruction of timber is OF more
far-reaching Importance than merely the loss OF
81 am reliably informed that the city of
Columbus. Ohio, was threatened with water
famine year ago last summer, just as many
other cities have been threatened in the recent
past. The people of Columbus were warned that
there was bare three days supply In the re-
servoir Their water is taken from the Scloto
River. which was nearly dried up. Nothing but
a providential rain saved them from the cata
strophe. This condition is due very largely to
the destruction of the woodlands around the head
waters of these streams. 1t is the woodlands
that hold the water in check and allow it to seep
out gradually Without that there can only be
alternating floods and droughts.
"There is just one thing more that l want
To saw. and would like to leave this with you
as concluding thought. All of us have heard
for years past of the famine conditions in China
That country once had wonderful covering OF
trees. very similar to that in America; but China
poor benighted land that it is, did what we are
doing in America-cut away it's trees and allow
ed the land to be burned over. The vegetation
was DESTROYED over vast areas; then the water
swent over the land and carried with it the fer
tile ton soil. So there are millions of acres in
China that constitute barren waste not capable
of producing vegetation China has one crop In
seven years. and in the other years Of that period
must look to the world for food to feed her teem-
ing millions.
"Chna has become, and will remain for long
wears. land of perpetual famine because she
has DESTROYED her forest covering, subjecting her.
self to the devastation of alternating floods and
drouphts and has sacrificed the fertile top soil
over such vast portion of her domain.
Gentlemen, 1 beg of you to consider TINS
problem as among the very great and far-reach
mo things affecting America. Oh, there are
manv things of small Importance on which we
waste our time in useless discussion, while we
are allowing the process of devastation and de-
forestation and wastefulness to consume tne her
;taoe which has come to us under the providence
of God and through the heroic Sacrlhces VI ""
forefathers and we have disregarded the sa1etv
an welfare of our heritage.
"That is my plea to you. l think there Is
nothing that affects the future of America more
an very few things that are of equal importance
Gentlemen hope it may be possible for US mere
to do that thing which is so necessary Tor our
children and our children's children. Even though
we may not personally suffer within our lifetime,
let us do the thing that is obviously our duty ana
protect America, and keep it worth while Tor
other men in the future to live in and to ADMIRE
and to love-"