CRIMINAL TREATMENT OF TREES 77 



restoring forest trees to their former habitation, 

 and also toward the extermination of savagery 

 toward all tree growth from the boys of this gener- 

 ation. Heredity from the slayers of trees in their 

 fight with the primeval woods, will require heroic 

 treatment. A boy with a hatchet is still a desolator, 

 and with an axe he is a scourge second only to the 

 forest burner; when he grows to manhood his greed 

 is proof against all sentiment or suggestion of 

 remoter consequences. 



For centuries now the matchless forests of this 

 country have been faced with the cry of " Kill! Kill!" 

 There has been no mercy and no recourse. Slaugh- 

 ter has waged unhindered and unrebuked. Timber 

 forests, with unlimited supply under care and cul- 

 ture, have been ruined. The waste has been more 

 than the product. For bark, for charcoal and fire- 

 wood, for fence posts and railroad ties, for lumber 

 and shingles, for spars and ship-timbers, for wooden- 

 ware, matches, and even toothpicks, the woods have 

 been flayed alive. We have wasted our inheritance 

 until the resulting shame is beginning to show. 

 Forest laws that are sharp and usable as axes 

 are demanded. The ownership of woodland must 

 not carry the right to abuse it. Lands that are 

 important water preserves should be protected the 

 same as public reservoirs. Private ownership which 

 has proved detrimental to public interests should 

 be suppressed by public purchases. All possible 



