576 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION December 



timber have been burned in this way, ercised in the use of the limited sup- 

 to the inestimable damage of the min- pie at present available. Electricity 

 i i. ^ industry. The anxious but unprin,- generated by water power at remote 

 cipled seeker for a mine lets selfish- points must supplant steam as motive 

 ness blind him to the best interests of power, and every device for restricting 

 the community. For a temporary per- the use of timber about the mines must 

 sonal convenience he does that which be resorted to or a permanent shut- 

 may render his mine, if he find one, down on account of lack of timber will 

 practically valueless, because he de- result. And this economical use must 

 stroys the supply of timber upon be supplemented, too, by the most care- 

 \vhich, very likely, hinges the question ful protection and husbanding of the 

 whether or not the property may be young- growth now struggling for a 

 profitably worked. Such a person is start on the cut-over and fire-swept 

 unworthy the name of a prospector ; he areas. There will be a large amount 

 is a disgrace to the honorable class of of small stuff suitable for lagging and 

 men, among whom he intrudes him- similar material on these tracts within 

 self. No penalty too severe can be a comparatively short time, but if cut- 

 imposed upon such malicious miscre- ting and culling be allowed to be done 

 ants. without restriction or proper super vi- 



Tn the vicinity of almost every min- sion, what now promises to be a fairly 



ing camp the naked hillsides testify good timber supply will be utterly de- 



to the fearful destruction wrougt in stroyed before the day of its real util- 



the early days. Where formerly the ity arrives. Originally there was an 



mountains were covered with forests, abundance of good timber in that lo- 



they are now denuded. Favored spots cality, and had forestry methods pre- 



may be seen, whereon a limited growth vailed there during the forty years of 



of seedlings and saplings proves na- the camp's existence, there would be 



ture's efforts to restore normal condi- enough yet for all legitimate needs and 



tions, but many years must elapse ere the miners would not be threatened 



her object can be attained, even with with a timber famine, 



all the care and assistance forest re- The quartz-mining region around 



serve methods may render. In the Silver City and Le Lamar in Idaho 



meantime, the mines near by must, at affords another case to illustrate the 



great cost, draw upon distance sources injurious effects of thoughtless extrav- 



of supply for such timber as is neces- agance in the use of timber in the pi- 



sary to their continued operation. oneer days. Had the timber which 



It would appear idle to furnish ex- nature placed there been economically 



amples, but an illustration is found used and care taken to prevent fires 



near Virginia City, Mont., towards while the renewal of the forests was 



the head of Alder Gulch, once famous in progress, there would have been no 



as the richest placer mining camp of shortage, but, as things are, coal must 



the time. Producing mines are in act- be used for fuel for domestic pur- 



ive operation there, .and development poses, power for the mines is derived 



is progressing in many lode claims. from the large electric plants at Swan 



But there is a shortage of forest prod- Falls of the Snake River that cost over 



nets. Wood for fuel can not be gath- $3,000,000, and timber for under- 



ered in quantities sufficient to meet ground use must be transported to 



the actual demand for more than a the mines by rail and wagon from 



year or so longer, while timbers for the forested areas of central Idaho 



underground work must be hauled and Oregon. 



long distances, and even then the ma- Everyone familiar with placer work 



terial is very inferior. The stand of in any long established camp has heard 



the scrubby timber now being utilized the general complaint, "The climate 



at great cost will be wholly inadequate must be changing, for water gets 



unless the most rigid economy be ex- scarcer and scarcer every year." 



