RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF FORESTS 485 



natural resources is as objectionable as ber for ties and many other purposes; 

 that the state should do all. Private the mining corporations, who must have 

 ownership of a public necessity should timber for props and a multitude of 

 be placed under such governmental con- other uses ; the paper manufacturers 

 trol as to protect public interests, and and lumbermen, whose very existence 

 it may be best, ere long, for the states depends upon a supply of wood, and 

 to exert their inherent police power to others, like the tanneries, which largely 

 control, to a limited extent, the forests depend upon forest products to carry 

 belonging to corporations, municipali- on their work. Not only is there an 

 ties, and private individuals. This has economic reason why all these should 

 been found necessary in Europe in or- engage in the work of restoration and 

 der to prevent damage to public in- conservation, but there is another fea- 

 terests. The state of Maine has al- ture that is important and must not be 

 ready adopted measures looking to such forgotten. All these are consuming the 

 control, and others will be likely to fol- forests for what may be termed self- 

 low. At first glance, this seems a se- aggrandizement or gain, and the public 

 rious encroachment upon private rights, at large receives only the benefit of be- 

 but, as in all like cases, the rights of ing served at a price, and a good round 

 the public are paramount. one at that. All such bodies should 



As has already been stated, public recognize the duty they owe to the pub- 

 opinion has heretofore been almost en- lie to restore and keep good the forests 

 tirely in favor of governmental action which they are exploiting for them- 

 alone, and other agencies have been selves only, and if they will not recog- 

 given little consideration ; but if what nize that duty, and act upon it, they 

 has been thus far insisted upon are should be compelled by law to do so. 

 the actual conditions prevailing, then In some European countries, no one is 

 others, though at present thought of permitted to remove trees from his own 

 little moment, are the important ones ; land without planting an equal or 

 for if the government cannot do the greater number, so that destruction of 

 work, other agencies must, or it will not the forests will not ensue. If the cor- 

 be done. Who, then, must conserve the -porations do not possess forests of their 

 forests on four-fifths of the timber land own — but many of them do — laws 

 of the United States which the Presi- should be enacted whereby those who 

 dent tells us is in the hands of private cut down forests for them shall restore 

 individuals? and who must plant and them by planting. Doubtless, this 

 restore the forests on the cut-over and scheme to compel the replacing of what 

 burned-over lands unfitted for agricul- is cut off will be looked upon as revo- 

 ture? It would seem that the answer lutionary and subversive of natural 

 is not hard to find, and yet few have rights, and we may not be prepared for 

 given it serious thought. it just now; but be that as it may, it 



As has been indicated, the duration will come to that in due time or the 



of the life of the party undertaking the index hand on the dial of progress of 



restoration and conservation of our for- this nation will go backward, never to 



ests play an important part in the again advance until that or something 



probability of their accomplishment, akin to it shall prevail. 



Those having a legal existence — ere- But there is another class of corpora- 



ated by law and "take no note of time" tions which stand in a different atti- 



— do not labor under the disadvantages tude toward the public. In such the 



incidental to human life. Such are public at large is interested in every- 



known as corporations, whose lives are thing connected with them, and is in 



seldom limited by the power which ere- full control of them — in fact, they be- 



ates them. Among those whose inter- long to the public. These are the mu- 



ests would be greatly enhanced by the nicipal corporations — the townships,, 



restoration and conservation of our boroughs, cities, and counties. That 



forests are the railroads, who need tim- they can and should grow and maintain 



