Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-12-04

Few countries are more interested than Anne
RIGA in all that relates to woods and forests for
there is really great danger if the matter is net
Looked 70 in tine, that large portion Of our
country Will be reduced to the dry and sterile
state Of many parts of the Old World which
were once prosperous and populous, but have
now become barren from the wauton cutting
down Of the trees. 4 recent publication on this
subject in Germany by DR.. Coutzen, Of the SUIT
gard Polytechnic School, has brought together
great number Of interesting facts from the
experience not only Of Europe, but Of other con-
tnents. II would almost appear, he says, that
man has it in his power to regulate the tempera-
ture, TO a certain cx tent. Of the country in which
he dwells. 10 Cairo, Lower Egypt, number Of
years ago, rain fell but very seldom, only once
in three or four years; bat since the time of
Mohammei Ali, twenty 10 thirty millions Of
trees have been planted, and the result is now
that the people have from thirty to forty rainy
days every year. In Upper Egypt the reverse
is the case In the beginning Of the century it
certainly did not rain there very much. yet there
was enough; but since tire heights have been de
pryed of their covering If palm trees, the rain has
ceased to fall and in consequence, fields and inca
dows are rendered unfruitful From South Anne
RIGA Alexander Won Humboldt brings an interest
ing instance In $500 he visited Venezuela, and
reports that the natives living in the valley OF
Araguay had remarked with great establishment
that lake which lay in the middle Of the val
ley had decreased in volume with every yesr;
the cause of this he clearly traced to the telling
Of a great number Of trees that grew upon the
surrounding mountains. In Europe itself, many
parts Of v nuremberg have been rendered almost
barren by the Telling Of the forests. In Hungary
the periodically returning drought is universally
attributed to the determination Of the forests
The recent great floods in Switzei land have also
been attributed, in part, to the mountain forest
robbery. In January, 1868, the Canton Tessin
alone lost 675. 600 francs by the foods But
the Protect of the Drome wrote, as early A.
1904: "In Valence and Crest there is no more
wool; the mountain declivities sre in conse-
Iuenoe cut up into millions Of ravines"
Many celebrated Germans have earlier re-
eognizel the grand use for which Nature in
tended her forest trees. Riehl, the historian
said 80 Cot down the forest and you destroy the
historicopolitical socie.y' Ale1anier van Hum
boldt said by the telling Of trees covering the
mountains and hills, man prepared, under all
zones, for the coming generation a two-fold
plague-lack Of fuel and lack OF water" The
patriot Erust Mortz Arudt uttered the prophecy
a. Now will the axe laid to the tree in many parts
Of Europe become an axe which viii be laid to
the people - Dr. Cout1en attributes the de
teriora,ion Of many races to the loss Of the for
ests. and says Among the woods we find a |
fresh, healthy, strong people. The oaks Of ancient
Germany were as celebrated and powerful as
it, inhabitants, who were the terror Of the 70 |
mans The oaks are now seldom seen, the |
giant oaks have disappeared, and giren place to |
pigmies" The Mongols and Arabs of Asia are
also cited IS examples Of deterioration The |
conclusion arrived at, apart from the impor- |
lance If for SIS considered in their aesthetic and |
Poetic relat.,ns. in their inestmable value for /
the production e the water POWER, and in rela-
ton to industry and agriculture, Is, that man |
can. OF safely disturb the harmony # tie carths |
that he cannot carry far the devasta-
ton Of the woods without mourning the penalty
Of his imprudeuce In the taking away Of the
forests. nan depriyos the earth of an lrleparable
Il valuable materials for the udurish-
lnent, development and Identifying Of his own
life, and the most perfect, eevating ard h.iuij-
full picture Of the Vegetable creation. II .tjri-
butes the present uufruitfuncss Of Asia Minor
and Greece 10 the destruction of the wood, f.r
highest culture, are now only steppes, ruins and
tomhs. Sardinia and Sicily. once the gran aries
4 Italy, have suffered the penalty Of iheir
in cxtermiuating their forests
The ancients have related to US the wonderful
prolucti, eness of these lands two 'ousand years
,so. when they were praised as the most beauti-
hi in the world, and the richness Of Sicily was
certainly astounding Now, as is well known,
,vervthing is completely changed The reason
must lie locked for in the destruction Of the for
SITS upon the mountains, upon whose gloomy,
ali SUBMITS now the rain falls but seldom,
because the attractive power-the forests
wanting. Many streams and fountains are "
lry, which we're 'uoe sources Of fertility TO the
urrounding lands and the once advanced in
ellectual development Of the people has given
lace to abjcct degradation.
Judge Barnard Of New York, of naturalization
rauds. Erie swindles, and countless other in
,mies. informed the Grand jury on NJ uday,
nat 50 far from having fortune of five million
ollars, Z" he had not nov, and nerer had, sepa-
ate from his wife. dollars worth Of property, ,
nd va. to-day dependent upon his salary as a +
ldge, and the charity Of his wife
Judge Barnard must have been an industrious
I'd frugal man uerer to have acquired single
liars worth Of property Many men lose a
hat they have got, but the men are few who n
luer had dollars worth Of property. The o
idge added that for eleven years he has been b
lder the shadow of these atrocious charges, till
last he begins to feel that his reputation is il
Iected by them and his influence impaired. tC
This reminds us Of the story of the Old squaw. 4
no was found propped up against a fence, c.
,pty whiskey bottle in hand, and weeping bit b,