Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-11-04
FORESTS.

Among the English reports on the varf-
Gus classes in the Paris Exhibitions Of last
year, which have just been published upon
forestry, is one by Mr.. Webber, of the
Forest Department of India. The writer
questions whether wood is not of. more
Importance to man than iron. He re-
marks that in Europe, for several CEN.
turles, governments have found it neces-
sary to interfere to protect the forests from
destruction. In other countries, not long
| since covered with dense forests, where
the constant cutting of timber has been
going On, 1t is fonnd that timber is getting
scarce, even for present use no thought
has been taken at all of the future. India,
the great country of jungles, has awaken
| ed, and established system of conserya-
tion, but not until pine had to be imported
from Norway r- a- -
In France and Germany, forestry is one
OF the state professions of the highest
scientific character, and regularly flled
from the better and educated class, who
are trained for the purpose It will give
some idea of the Importance attached to
Eorestl yin these countries (says the report)
that France has 100000 acres Of state
forest, revenue g1, 740, 900 in the conser
walton and managemento of which 950O,000
is annually expended. Prussia has 5,07O.-
900 acres, Bavaria 1862, 900 acres, while
the forest area of Austria is 13, 100000
acres, with an export value of e3,O00,OO0
sterling annually realized. Systematic
conservation in Europe has restored for
ests to an area of correct proportion to-
the cultivation of the country, and Sc
cured a supply for profitable export.
Under British rule, India has lately be-
gun to look after her valuable forests; but
not Until most the teak and sal districts
had become unproduetive from reckless
cutting, aud a scarcity and consequent
high price been the result These two
limbers, which, with oak and two Others,
rank number one at Loyd's for shipbuild-
ing, are only found in England's India
possessions, and an idea may be formed
of the Importance of forest conservation
from the facts put forward in the report
Of DIR. Brands, Inspector General Of For
ssts in India, that the average 6f first
class teak trees found in the normal uncut
forest at Beeling was fourteen per acre :;
While over the entire area of government
eak forest lately taken into manag ement
It Manlmain, five hundred and fifty-two!
niles IN extent, the first class trees which
emaln standing are only fifteen in ten
lcres, while stumps' and damaged trees.
abound, bagorr no.qan 5d1 la
The sal forests of Upper India might be
hown to be even in worse plight through
9ckiess cutting and utter neglect There
7ere in 1880 probably four thousand
qnare miles ofpurely sal forests along the
GOT OF the Himalayas, besides those In
Ientrai India available to the government.
he sal timber is almost the only one
ound capable of standing the Indian clf-
late for railway uses; yet now the East
ndlan railway has been obliged to import
lre s'eepers from Norway, sal being
,arcely procurable. Government has
leretore become alive to the Importance
forest conservation in India, it being
most too late, and the work of the new
orcst Department. will be for many years
hat OF restoring rather than working the
jungles OF India.