Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1850-12-05
.. e. Far the Enquirer.
Trees, Forests, Coal.
No. ".

The third answer to the question
What will be the condition OF our coun
TRY few generations hence, &c." il
:. The amount of Coal in our country j.
inexhaustible. Admit it for the sake OF
argument. But can coal supply tn"
place Of timber? Will it meet the end
less demand for building and manufactu
ring purposes? Laying ABIDE every con-
Sideration of beauty, fuel. influence on eli
mate, health. comfort. &C., there is ye,
an endless demand for an unceasing and
increasing supply Of timber for which
there can be no substitute. This demand
must be commensurate with the multi
plying wants of an increasing population.
But admitting that the supply Of coal
is not only inexhauslitle, but that it Car
also supply the place Of timber; there
are yet many difficulties in the way OF its
general employment rs fuel; among
which may be- mentioned. its limited 10,
c,lities. limited in comparison With the
sp'ead OF population and the consequent
Inconvenience oi procuring IT by those ri
distance, compared with that of wood.
which grows. or ought to grow, on every
mans premises: the difficulties and in
conveniences attending its use, compared
with the use of wood DC. txs
But is the supply Of coal really mex
haustible? II may be so 10 all practical
purposes, according t. the present rate Of
using il. But we neither know how long
it may be needed. nor the extent Of the
future demand. Besides, it must be re,
membered that only about two. thirds Of
the absolute quantity is available for use.
Suppose then the time to be indefinitely
extended or extended to u thousand
vears--(and whs shall limit it to vice
that number?) We must remember that
the demand will 60 on increasing a hun
dred, perhaps a Thousand fold as hun
drcds and thousands will use it, If wood
be cut off. where one uses it now. Our
population will soon be counted by hun
dreds OF millions. all Of whom will require
fuel. Our manufacturing operations must
increase IN the same ratio. Furnaces.
lorges. and steam engines must multiply
beyond all present calculation and all b.
KEEP. in operation by coal. or some other
agent, when timber shall cease to be
used. & HEL}4F
The quantity of coal s doubtless great ;
but how do we know that in using it now.
we are not invading the rights Of poster
lity? How do we know Ihat the design
OF Providence in burying it deep in the
Garth" was not, that It might be re-
served for generations yetio come? Yet
we have seized upon il as our right. and
what is worse than all, the discovery OF
coal has had the effect 10 mako rs prodi-
sal in the use Of timber. rs il all belonged
10 ~ and not 10 future generations.
have looked with much anxiety for a
substitute for steam. ! still hops that
such substitute may be found 10 Tins TO
save our forests from entire destruction ;
whether In the judiciOus and naerCifalap.
plication Of horse, power, or IN the still
more desirable agent, Electro. Magnstsm.
An ingenious and efficient continuance oI
lie former kind 10 said 10 have hoen lals.
" brought out IN EaUpe--why q lts ~
troducIIun Into use 70 long delayed ! We
have much Of the great strength ana
wsndsrfal pOwsTs Of che Ia1ssr-~hy e