The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-12-20
SUPERVISOR HA|M[L
PLEADS FOR FOREST

Supervisor A. G. Hamel has written
the press asking the support of cit
liens aid In the forestry plans of
Christmas tree cutting and to do so
under these plans. Supervisor Hamel
in his letter says:
With the approach Of another
Christmas season, those who are con-
cerned with providing Christmas trees
and boughs for the occasion
turn thoughts and efforts to the for
ests from whence these things come.
For years we have been drawing
from our young stands of spruce and
balsam 70 supply the demand. But
how many Of US have given any serious
thought to the nature of this source
of evergreens and trees, the young
forests of spruce and balsam, as prac-
tically all of our Christmas trees are
OF this species.
Forests Face Ruination
There are many Calamity howlers"
who tell US that unless we discontinue
this foolish old custom of cutting
young trees for a few days pleasure
that our young forests viii be ruined
There are others who say that we
have 50 many trees that the supply is
Observation-Disclosures nature viii grow
them as fast as We can cut them.
Still others who are different-not
caring where their trees come from
any more than they are concerned as
70 where safetypinS are made or come
from. And still others, though in the
minority, perhaps, who feel that the
use of the Christmas tree and boughs
is Just as legitimate as the use of
lumber or railroad ties. Both are
products of the forest To obtain
them means the cutting of forest
trees. Surely no one win say that the
use of lumber in building American
homes should be discontinued be-
cause to use it means the cutting Of
forest trees. It would be just as log
ical to apply the same sort of reason
ing to the use Of the Christmas tree.
But TO have lumber, ties, Christ
mas trees, for all time TO come and to
preserve the scenic beauty of our lake
shores and roadSides. promiscuous and
destructive cutting of our forest lands
must stop. Trees are a crop Just as
corn or wheat. The latter requires
one year to mature; the former. so to
70 years. How many realize that TO
have big trees 1T for lumber we must
have small trees. Little trees are Just
as essential to the lumber industry.
the scenic beauty of our landscapes.
and the progress of mankind, as boys
and girls are TO the continuity Of the
human race How, then, can some OF
us insist that the cutting of trees,
whether it be for lumber, ties, or
Christmas trees, is of no concern; that
any way we do it we viii always have
trees. II China thought 1000 to 5000
years ago about their forests, they
evidently thought this same thing.
What has China today? Her forests
are gone, and have been gone for
thousands of years, yet 5000 to 5000
years ago she had abundant forests
and the country was prosperous
A Gradual Process
This whole matter of forest de-
pietion and devastation is ordinarily
a gradual process, but the cumulative
effect over large period Of years is
already being felt through the COM
bined efforts of the federal and state
governments and far-seeing individ-
uals and corporations. The results Of
wise and conservative Use Of our for
ests are not outstanding or large in