"What has posterity ever done for us that we should do anything 

 for posterity?" is a saying as striking for the falsity of its suggestion 

 as for the edge of its wit. The most obvious material and natural 

 reasons impel us to work for posterity. Our happiness consists largely 

 in procuring the happiness of our children and our grandchildren, 

 whose happiness in turn will consist in the happiness of their children 

 and grandchildren. However attenuated this altruistic sentiment may 

 become with further extension, it is enough for practical purposes if 

 it shall reach forward four generations. We bless our ancestors for 

 the building of roads and the planting of trees and it is what pos- 

 terity will do for us in the way of benediction that rightly animates 

 any one above the beasts. Indeed, it is hardly too much to say that 

 civilization itself lies in the fact and to the extent that "out of 

 sight" is not "out of mind." 



******** 



It is with the conservation of the forests that we are here concern- 

 ed, for without them there would be far less range to administer. 

 Until 1890 our land policy was all steam and no brake. Under a false 

 individualism, due to consideration for the bona fide settler and the 

 Civil War veteran, the larger interests of the region, which included 

 their interests, were forgotten. Recklessness and waste were rampant. 

 By false entries, bribery, and local terrorism millions of acres were 

 acquired and held by individuals and corporations, and what was 

 intended for the homemaker fell into the grasp of commercial exploit- 

 ers, whose operations have not only left trails of devastation, but have 

 poisoned the politics of many states. 



During Mr. Harrison's administration * * * came a new policy. 

 By a legislative provision, passed March 3, 1891,, the President was 

 authorized to withdraw from public entry and set apart and reserve 

 in any state or territory such portions of the public lands as might in 

 his opinion be desirable for the preservation of the forests and waters. 

 Then began a campaign of education throughout the country so con- 

 tinuous that he must be ignorant indeed who does not know the im- 

 pressive reasons why the upland forests must be preserved. The 

 lingering tragedies of those Mediterranean countries Greece, Italy, 

 France, Spain, and the African coast which permitted wholesale 

 destruction of their forests, have been rehearsed for our warning/ 

 Till old Experience do attain 

 To something of prophetic strain, 



while the success of the present far-sighted policies of Germany, 

 France, and other countries have been cited for our encouragement. 



The walnut and white pine of the Lake States are virtually 

 exhausted ; the leather trust is everywhere decimating the hemlock for 

 tanbark, while the soft woods, saplings as well as larger growth, are 

 being indiscriminately devoured by the pulp mills. Meanwhile, the 

 senseless tariff on lumber tempts the rich companies to further deple- 

 tion of our resources, rather than permit the builder to buy in the 

 cheaper and inexhaustible market of Canada. Could folly farther go? 



Reversing the witticism, let us ask, What has posterity ever done to 

 us that we should do such things to posterity? 



36 



