12 'Cbe Conservative.
DESIGNATED DEPOSITARY OF THE UNITED STATES.
National Bank of the Republic
OF CHICAGO.
, OJVJB MILLION DOLLARS.
JOHN A. LYNCH , President. W. T. FENTON , Vice President and Cashier.
J. H ; CAMERON and H. R. KENT , Asst. Cashiers. R. M. McKINNEY , 2d Asst. Cashier.
MUST SAVE STATE'S FORESTS.
John P. Brown of Connersville , presi
dent of the Indiana State Forestry
association , is in Denver stopping at the
Markham hotel. Mr. Brown has been
investigating the condition of the forests
in the Western states and particularly
in Colorado , where he observed with
regret the devastation wrought by forest
fires and timber thieves.
"The forests of Colorado will disap
pear unless immediate action is taken to
prevent the wholesale destruction that
is now going on , remarked Mr. Brown
in discussing the wasting of the public
timber.
"Colorado is the most careless state
in the Union with her forests. The way
in which she allows men to strip her
mountains of timber is a shame and an
outrage. The state itself ought to make
legislation in the matter and prevent
this wholesale felling of trees. Every
man in the state who has any interest
in irrigation should rise and demand
that some action be taken in this matter.
At the present rate of destruction the
time will not be long before the mag
nificent forests of Colorado have joined
the buffalo.
"Colorado has paid a great deal of
attention to her fish and game , " contin
ued Mr. Brown , "but she has neglected
her forests. The people of the state do
not seem to realize that the passing of
the forests will be the passing of the
game and fish. The mountains will no
longer retain the snow , feeding it grad
ually to the streams. The snow will
melt quickly , the water will flood the
country and after the flood will be dry
creeks , and , naturally , the complete
extermination of the fish will follow.
With the drying of the streams , too ,
irrigation will become an impossibility ,
and the present rich agricultural lands
of Colorado will become barren wastes ,
not fit even for taxation.
"Campers and reckless people gen
erally have been responsible for the
enormous forest fires which have been
raging this year in Colorado , destroying
hundreds and hundreds of thousands of
trees ; sweeping entire districts. The
state should have a law passed regulat
ing the building of fires on the state
domain. Guards should strictly enforce
the law. I have made a thorough tour
of the state , stopping at Colorado
Springs , Grand Junction , Glenwood
Springs , Ward , Boulder , Hagerman pass
and other places , and from these places
I have made long trips through the
mountains. I have been amazed at the
reckless manner in which forests have
been destroyed , at the manner in which
men hew down the trees , not only those
that are grown , but those that are
young mere saplings. It sounds ridic
ulous now , perhaps , to warn people
against the danger of destroying the
forests , but only a few years ago people
laughed when it was said that the
buffalo would soon disappear. They did
not think it possible , because hundreds
of thousands roamed the great prairies.
Now there are not 100 buffaloes in the
United States , and most of these are
either in zoological gardens or private
reserves. The forests will disappear
unless immediate action is taken to
prevent their wholesale destruction.
"Timber in stump in ten years will be
$10 per 1,000 feet , because with the
passing away of the forests its price will
naturally increase until , by and by ,
lumber will be a luxury. Only the rich
will then be enabled to build frame
houses. Every state should take up
this important matter of forestry and
enact legislation that will prevent the
destruction of the forests.
"I would suggest that a systematic
planting of trees be begun. Larch and
Russian olive trees and catalpa are the
most vigorous. They she uld be planted
everywhere. Then it should be con
trary to law for anyone to out a tree
under seven or eight inches in diameter.
This would permit the trees to grow to
maturity. " Denver Republican.
INCREASE IN RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
The advanced copy of the report of
the Interstate Commerce Commission ,
which has just been issued , shows that
on June 80 , 1899 , there wore 928,924
persons in the employ of railways ,
which is equivalent to 495 per 100 miles
of line. It is significant that the num
ber of railway employees at the close of
the year covered by this report is greater
than for any previous year. As com
pared with the previous year , the pay
rolls show an increase of 54,306 in rail
way employees , which , added to the
increase of the previous year , as com
pared with the year ending June 80 ,
1897 , shows an increase during the past
two years of 105,448. It is worthy of
note , however , that , notwithstanding
this great increase in the number of
men employed , the number employed
per 100 miles of line is less than it was
in 1898. Thus , the number of men per
100 miles of line in 1899 was 495 ; in 1898
it was 515. This fact suggests that the
economies rendered necessary by the
depression of the years 1894 , 1895 , 189(5 (
and 1897 have resulted in a permanent
advantage to the railroads , as also to
the public , a conclusion which receives
further support should one compare tin
density of employees with the amount of
traffic handled.
GOVERNOR HOA1 > LY ON SECRETARY
OLNEY.
EDITOR THE-CONSERVATIVE :
I am greatly grieved to see the hon
ored name of Richard Olney in the list
of Bryan's supporters. Few , very few
gold democrats have more or higher
claims to the confidence and respect of
our fellow countrymen than Secretary
Olney. A lady of my acquaintance who
has read his letter says : "Many and
cogent are the reasons he gives for not
supportingMcKinley none for support
ing Bryan. " Except that of antagonism
to McKiuley , what possible reason could
Secretary Olney or Postmaster Ganer al
Wilson give for the advocacy of Bryan's
election ? None of any value. Bryan is
either sincere and honest or insincere
and dishonest. 1C the latter , he is un
worthy of Mr. Oluey's and Mr. Wilson's
support. If the former , as they evi
dently believe , then he is pledged to
destroy the sound currency we have ,
and substitute a 50-cent dollar , if
elected , by all the means in his power ,
and this without delay. I respect and
honor Richard Olney , shall continue to
do so , notwithstanding his aberration on
the presidential question , but I shall not
envy the feelings with which he will
contemplate the action of his newly
chosen leader in the selection of a secre
tary of the treasury next March , on the
initiation of 16 to 1 soon thereafter , if
Bryan should chance to be successful in
November.
GEO. HOADLY.
Watkins , N. Y. , Sept. 9 , 1900.
