File:Areas of desolation in Pennsylvania (microform) (1915) (20334034635).jpg

Title: Areas of desolation in Pennsylvania (microform)
Identifier: areasofdesolatio01roth (find matches)
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Rothrock, Joseph T. , 1839-1922
Subjects: Forests and forestry; Reforestation; Waste lands
Publisher: Philadelphia : Herbert Welsh
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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mmmmmniiim-^i'^ ' \ 6 were not anticipated. And we cut and kept on cutting and ^hut our eyes to the fact that the end was ap- proaching. The mistake was that we failed to reahze that pro- duction of forests was the one predestined function of our mountain ranges and stony ridges, and, of course, as a consequence no one thought of putting them back to timberâas Germany, France, or Switzerland would have done. If productive forestry had been under- stood at the time here, we might have had forests well advanced toward maturity since the zealous cutting for lumber purposes began, and the mould and soil still remaining upon a fertile forest floor! A irro'At wrong has been done the soil by our failure to return to it the forest crop for which it was fitted; and through wrong to the soil we have done a greater wrong to those fot^ whom w^e, by divine appointment, held the land in trustâour children! Of those who did the lunilx^ring, comparatively few became wealthy. The reward for their industry was not great. Luml)er was thrust on to tlu^ market in advance of actual pressing need, and the conseciuence was that i)rices, even for the l)est, fcOl below a normal rate; but, all the same, an irreparable injury was in- flicted upon the country, a wrong so great aiid so un- necessary that even the phenomenal develo)>ment and prosperity of those days cannot atone for it. Ignorance often invites, but seldom averts, a penalty. ^ To-day the lesson of China compels our attention. To what extent can we, by prompt action, escape the penalty invoked by violation of natural law when the protecting forest cover was rcMuoved and I'uv and flood mvited to do their worst on our steep, rocky slopes?
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