The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-06-12
OUR FOREST WANTS.

| The resolution proposed in the House of Re-
representatives., some time since, by MIR Donnelly,
of Minnesota, in relation to the cultivation OF
trees on the prairies, has brought forth an ad-
mirable report from Judge Edmunds, of the
| Land Office, who refers ito certain facts and
probabilities which are of the utmost importance.
We are running out our timber supplies in this
country with unexampled rapidity. We cut
down and use, and frequently we destroy forests,
without necessity, merely to get rid OF the trees,
and yet our population is increasing so Sapidly
that lumber is becoming more valuable every
day. But We 60 on, without care, diminishing
our stock and making no effort to replace it
Judge Edmunds very judicousfy says that if we
continue IN the practice of this extravaganza
we will be out Of wood in the course of Gen.
tury, and be compelled to make our beams and
scautliugs, like the Chinese, out of tbree-inch
wood bound together with hoops and other con-
triyaDces. In addition to the peculiarly evils
OF this wastefulness, are others, among which
may be mentioned the injury to the health of
the people, by diminishing the supply of water
by rains, which become less frequent as the
forests disappear. Upon trees we not only
depend for crops, but TO keep our rivers full,
whereby We have means of access to large dis
tricts of the, country, and also have unfailing
and cheap means Of using mechanical power:
But there is another reason why we should
endeavor to preserve timber, and that Is
that In immense regions of this country there
are trees The wild praries Of the West,
those magnificent plains stretching away thou
sands of miles, are, by some provision of nature
which we may suppose to have been for the
benefit of the country in the times before the
European settlements, treeless and desolate-
Man has settled upon them, and population is
advancing. Trees will grow there if they are
s,lantad and attapdad tn hnt tho
:ty of settlers upon the plains this subject is
never thought of Means requisite to stimu
late the attention Of the inhabitants of the great
West to the necessity of cooperation in this
matter How best to encourage the planting
of trees, is the question which was referred TO
by Judge Edmunds. The propriety of granting
alternate tracts of lands, as premiums for the
| cultivation Of trees was suggested, but Judge
Edmunds does not advise that course. He
thinks that'ther ought to be provision in the
warrant Of every settler upon the public lands,
binding him to plant a certshn number Of trees
within specified time. He would also make
it the duty of public surveyors to plant the
seeds of trees at each asceraned corner in the
tracts which they may lay out. This would dot
! the country with little groups of trees, which
would give relief to the dreary landscape of the
plains and encourage the Inhabitants to add to
the number of such ornaments. To devise a
general system in regard to this matter is not
easy. Everything will have to depend upon
| individual effort, anG there be no better
method of calling the attention Of parties TO-
| terested to the importance of this matter than
by free and earnest scussion.-PhHadclphi
Enquirer.
Trees useful things in towns and cities,
but it is seldom that municipal authorities will
| take any of shade trees on the streets.