FORESTRY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. ot 
saw-mills traverse the country, using up every tree valuable for sawed 
lumber; these are followed by the railroad-tie cutters, who take every 
tree large enough for one tie; to complete the work, charcoal-burners 
follow, using every stick that is left. We have before us a pamphlet 
setting forth the advantages of a Colorado town, and therein is the 
statement that within a radius of ten miles sixty charcoal-kilns are 
running, with a capacity of 4,000 bushels each per month, and repre- 
senting a monthly distribution of $50,000. This charcoal is being made 
from wood belonging to the United States, which receives therefor no 
compensation of any sort; and, moreover, the actual settler in the vi- 
cinity is being deprived of the wood granted him for his own use, and 
is being forced to go miles for wood enough to cook his food; and last, 
and worst of all, drought and desolation are being invited in order that: 
a few individuals may reap a temporary profit out of the government. 
HOW THE FOREST MAY BE PROTECTED. 
The few illustrations offered may serve to give an idea of the situa- 
tion along the whole eastern slope.of the Rocky Mountains, so far as 
occupied by miners or penetrated by railroads and railroad-tie cutters. 
It is safe to say that no other government on earth, liberal or despotie, 
would suffer itself to be thus despoiled; and in this country the offense 
is greater because it is not the robbery of some prince, potentate, or 
individual, or class of individuals, but of the whole people. The evil 
is glaring and evident, and the remedy should be prompt and certain. 
It is suggested that the most effectual is the withdrawal of all govern- 
mentetimbered land from market, and the sale of the timber under gov- 
ernment regulation in such a manner as to protect the forest from ex-. 
tinction. ‘To illustrate, the forest lands might be divided into districts 
of reasonable extent, each under care of a government inspector, whose. 
duty it shall be to supervise the forest growth, to bring trespassers to- 
justice, and to see that only such trees are sold as can be spared with- 
out detriment, or whose removal would be advantageous, or that no- 
trees below a certain size shall be cut on tracts designated. It should 
also be made his duty to exercise oversight of tracts from which the 
merchantable timber has already been removed, to see that the young’ 
growth is not injured, and especially that it be protected from fire. In. 
the beginning, for what is done should be done at once, this duty should 
be performed by capable and discreet men, without any personal or: 
property interest in the districts committed to their charge; men ac- 
quainted with the value of timber and its habits of growth, and, above. 
all, men of incorruptible character. 
GOVERNMENT FORESTERS. 
To the end that this duty, which is to be perpetual—for it should be - 
understood that the government forests are never to be destroyed—there - 
should be a body of young, energetic, and practical men educated by- 
