CHAPTER II. 
CONSEQUENCES OF FOREST DESTRUCTION. 
The Wasteful Havoc of Forest-lands, and its Serious Consequences.— 
The Indifference Manifested towards Remedying the Evil. — The 
Action of Public Corporations on Forest-lands.—The Efforts of Dr. 
Drake to Protect Forests.—The Evil Consequences of Non-atten- 
tion.—Probable Date of a Timber Famine in the United States.— 
The Inherited Duties of Americans. — The Destined Uses of Nat- 
ure’s Growth.—Fencing and Railroad Interests as a Means of For- 
est Destruction—Annual Destruction and Replacement Contrasted. 
—Convincing Necessaries. 
THE WASTEFUL HAVOC WHICH IS BEING WORKED IN THE 
WEST, AND THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, 
“Our National Legislature,” tritely observes Bryant, 
“Cig almost wholly indifferent to the fate of our forests, 
and betrays a destitution of statesmanlike forecast that 
is painful.” If this were all it would not be so bad; but, 
aside from their indifference, the Congress is constantly 
squandering large bodies of our forest-lands on public 
corporations who are obtaining them only for profit, 
and who will destroy them with more rapacity even 
than private individuals. Candidly, I believe that very 
many of our Congressmen do not credit the statements 
and theories that, by denuding a country of its forests, 
you can injure its productiveness. Some of them have 
lived a great many years, and as yet have seen no evil 
effects from the cutting down of forests, nor have they 
experienced any scarcity of fire-wood at home. Wise 
men—to them there is no other land than Spain, and no 
other age than that in which they live. It is now near- 
ly fifty years since Dr. Drake of Cincinnati proposed to 
