Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Rawlings. The people to my right have all spoken in regard to the economic advantages of forest areas and the disadvantages economically of a wilderness area. And I would like to suggest to you, Senator, that wilderness is the most valuable resource that we have in Idaho. And I am advocating very strongly wilderness for Long Canyon. I'm a 10-year resident of Idaho. I'm a home owner. I have two children in the public schools. I myself have been a public school teacher. And I own the local bookstore in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. I'm going to do something that's probably just a little unusual for one of these hearings. I'm going to read a poem to you. Do you know who Gerard Manly Hopkins is, Senator. Gerard Manly Hopkins was a Jesuit priest who lived in England about 100 years ago. He wrote a short poem enti- tled 'Binsey Poplars' that addressed the issue of cutting down the nature that we so much admire and that we so much trust upon. I'm going to read you this short poem written in 1879. Binsey Poplars FELLED 1879 My aspens dear, whose airy cages quelled, Quelled or quenched in leaves the leaping sun, All felled, felled, are all felled; Of a fresh and following folded rank Not spared, not one That dandled a sandalled Shadow that swam or sank On meadow and river and wind-wandering weed-winding bank. O if we but knew what we do When we delve or hew— Hack and rack the growing green! Since country is so tender To touch, her being so slender, That, like this sleek and seeing ball But a prick will make no eye at all, Where we, even where we mean To mend her we and her, When we hew or delve: After-comers cannot gu«ss the beauty been. Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve Strokes of havoc unselve The sweet especial scene, A rural scene, a rural scene, A sweet especial rural scene.