The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-01-21
@isfellanesus.
A. Startling Announcement.


In the last report of the United
States Department of Agriculture there
is presented vast amount of informa-
ton and statistics of the consumption Of
wood in our country, aud the effects OF
the wholesale destruction Of our Ameri
can forests. From facts and figures Of
too accurate character to be disputed,
the conclusion is reached shat, unless
measures are taken Immediately to re.
place by now plantations the supplies
Withdrawn BY the destruction oil our old
forests, "there will be au actual famine
for wood in this country within the
next thirty years"
Few are aware of the reckless waste
of timber going on; and yet they ought
to know, for the change OF climate and
the extremes Of the temperature which
we now endure were not formerly known,
and are convincing evidence of this
fact. 1t is true that coal or peat may
be substituted for purposes of fuel; but
in mechanical arts, III bui ding houses
or ships, or innumerablc other purposes,
We must have wood, sound, aud strong.
The black walnut is rarely found now
iu the Eastern or Middle States, where
once 1t was plenty. Our pine comes
more than thousand miles, from Mi:h.
igan and Wisconsin aud beyond, to the
value Of tens Of millions Of dollars, TO
support our demands.
In the single State Of New York,
from 1850 to 1860, there were reclaimed
from the forest aud brought into cult.
walton no less than 1867 .133 acres OF
land. All these acres will never again
he devoted to timber growing; aud still
the destruction goes OH.
II the present. demand for lumber
continues IN proportion to the increase
Of population. in twenty years from now
We shall need 5000, 100000 worth of
sawed lumber annually. Aud where
are We to obtain il!
1t is estimated that from 1850 to
1860 no less than $4,000, 900 acres OF
new land in the United States were
brought under cultivation, of which two
iiths were timber land. Aud ia the de.
cade ending 1870 there will bc no less
than 100, 600, 900 acres so rec aimed.
We do not see here the wild cherry
o; cucumber tree. The hard mapls
aud hickory are almost entirely Que:
while eptire sections have been donuded
of hemlock aud pine.
The sleepers used on the railroads OF
our country from 1850 to 1860 cost
s23, ,063, 1851, and their number was
So, ,so7 ,02O; and when it is remembered
that these are almost entirely hard wood,
and last but two to Ave years, it will be
seen that the annual supply for this
purpose is enormous, aud increasing us
new railroads are built.
1t is proposed to cut d new railroad
iuto the heart of John Browns Tract
or into the Adirondack region, where
already exist thousands Of acres OF tim
ber laud, waiting for the axe and traus-
portation.
We beg our legislature to use high
hand TO forbid such metciless pro-
ceeding. We're it done, mark the Of.
feet. The cold rains aud storms and
SHOWS from the icy regions Of the Adj
rondack Mountains, or from far beyond,
will whirl down In terrific, resistless
bleakness upon the cultivated lands of
Central and Eastern New York, destroy
all fruit trees, cause our crops Of grain
and vegetables 10 suffer from change Of
climate; the Intense cold win be an In
jury TO auimal life, aud Oar commerce
and industry suffer moro real damage
t!,an the entire value OF the whole re-
gion.
1t is noteworthy fact that wood in
all its branches Of manutacture aud use
pays more than one half the entire in
ternai revenue of the United States,
and no less than sixty-six trades de.
pend upon wood as bare material Tor
their labor.
Again, there are needed upon every
farm improvements iu the shape ol
buildings, fences and implements, which
10 their first cost form very large
comparison with the actual costs of the
farms, these are decaying every year,
and must be renewed.
The value OF the farms Of the United
States in 1860 was s6,65f, ,045, 700,
while the value Of the lumber improve
ments was 50, ,322 ,522, 900. All this
has been cut from the soil, and most Of
it within thirty years Not d single
thing has been done 10 replace It,
Again, in single year there was
used for repairs Of railroads, and rail.
road buildings and cars, in the United
States, no less than s3s, 600, 900 worth
of wood, while the wood fuel used for
locomotives for the United States reach
es the enormous figure Of s57 ,000, 900.
There are no less than 476, ,625 arti-
sans IN wood in this country. If We
estimate the value Of their production