Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, was only 42 when elected. He was not only the youngest man ever to become president up to that time, but also was probably the most active. He did many things in his life. He was a war hero, rancher, hunter, and an author. He also did much public service. He was the governor of New York, civil service commissioner, and helped lead the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (later known as the “Rough Riders”).
One of his most important problems was the status of American timber companies. I found this most intriguing, for it was not a major problem of the time, but could have resulted in one now. He was looking towards the future in seeing that the lumber collection from forests needed to be monitored and directed so as not to run out of timber. He could have just let lumber chopping continue as it had, but this could have led to disaster now. We could have run out of one of our most valuable resources. One that provides everything from paper and wood to build homes, to the oxygen we breathe. Another alternative would have been to have the government take charge of all lumber production.
I do not consider myself an environmentalist, but I do believe the world is going somewhat downhill due to our irresponsibility in managing the earth. If he had not begun to shift our forestry to scientific forestry, we could be at dangerously low levels today. This method of regrowing trees, and only chopping in areas every certain number of years helped us greatly. He got help in supporting and developing this from Gifford Pinchot, his Chief Forester. Not only ecologically, but economically. If our forests had degenerated too much, we would have to import extremely large amounts of wood from other countries. This would cause a loss of jobs here, and a general loss of money, and along with that a loss of economic strength. This is due to the fact that forests, and lumber in general, are a great source of jobs and money.
If he had let the tree-chopping continue as it had, we would be at dangerously low levels today. Our economy could have failed as a result of this due to the lack of jobs and further reliance on foreign markets. Losing this industry would in no way be able to replace all the jobs lost with a new industry such as the sale of foreign lumber. Also, this could have caused great patriotic and political unrest.
If the government had taken control of all forestry, then this would lose the competitiveness of big companies, as well as the economic stimulation big companies provide. There would be less people employed, or the employees would make less money. Either way, we lose. The main good thing that could occur as a result of this is the stabilization of lumber prices. The prices would all be similar, no matter where you went since they it would all be purchased by the retailers from the same place: the government.
Mr. Roosevelt’s insight into the future of America is uncanny. His actions may have saved our country a lot of trouble, both economically and ecologically. A lot of politicians today seem to indicate that they are the first politicians in this country doing something to protect this country and the world’s environment, but this is simply not true.
