New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TIE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

IL d. Chicago: S c. Grggs & Co.
In cor,nrebepsiyeness in cearness Of arrangement
and in the power of making plain to the unleamed
reader the truths of physical science, this Work
leaves little to be desired. The author has gone no
further beyond his subject than was required for the
Illustrations which are furnished by analogous facts
In other parts Of the world He has availed himself
of all the data which the explorations of later years
and the extension Of our settled territory have added
10 our preyous store and his work is it should be-
n succinct embodiment of results There is positive
need for such work. since the area of observation
has been so suddenly and widely expanded. Within
the last ten years. many gaps in the physical geo
GRANNY of the Mississippi Valley have been filed mp
aud tho botany and cimatology of the Plains and the
eastern base of the Rocky Mountains hitherto i'm
perfectly guessed from the observations of passing
explorers or of wdoly-separated military posts have
been more thoroughly fixed by permanent settlement
All previous works, relating TO this field have be-
come more or less obsolete and we are glad that the
task of supplying the deficiency has fallen into such
competent hards
Dr. Fosters object is to mark the present natural
limits of forest prairie and desert the varying con-
dtions of temperature and moisture and thereilects
in determining the range Of food-prOducing plants
within the Mississippi Basin.-nclGding the outlines
ofhe geology of the region the necessary basis OF
any physical description. In carrying out the plan
lie has wisely endcavOred to avoid giving his work
technical character. such as would rather BENT
nureIv scientific treatise His sketches of our great
central territory are presented in form winch IS not
beyond the comprehension of the unscienthc reader
while they suggest the direction which further Cd
servations should take, in order to be truly service
able IN science His own individual views on certain
questions are modestly presented, but never-as Is
too often the case in works of the kind-made the
o,ooo,ro Inv which the views or observations OF
others are judged.
The geological structure and climatic conditions OF
the eastern half of the Mississippi Valley are now
tolerably well understood, and the geology OF the
western half may also be sketehed-in outline at
least but the meteOrOlogy Of the latter portion
which presents some phenomena only paralleled, IL
anywhere in Central Asia, is still but lmpertectly
kaown. And this is precisely the region where
human settlement and cultivation will have most
power to modify the present natural conditions The
sudden northern detection of the isothermal lies
towards the western extremity of the Great Plains,
the climate and vegetation of the elevated plateaus
among the Rocky Mountains and the variations of
temperature produced by atmospheric causes which
work upon grander scale than in any other part OF
the world, are questions which await further IN
vestigation 1t is therefore we'll that the sum OF
our present knowledge should be collected
as a guide whereby its deficient points may
be determined. For instance, the planting OF forests
in Iowa and Kansas ought within afew years, TO eX
hibt some result in the amount or distribution OF
the rainfall and possibly, also, upon the mean tenn
peratuTe Of the year. Civilization moreover, will
often supply vegetation to a soil which Tepels the
indigenous growths and in time not only the phys
iognomy of large tracts may be changed, but also
certain primitive features of their climate be modi-
fed. The palm groves planted in the delta of the
Nile by order of Mohammed Ali, have already in
creased the rainy days of Lower Egypt from IRE to
forty annually the ATtesan wells bored by the
French beyond the Atlas have converted bare tracts
of Saharan sand into habitabe plains and 1t Is not
too much to suppose that tho rains which follow the
range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in Sum-
mer may be persuaded to spread their skirts further
and further over the Plains, until they meet the
clouds carried westward by cultivation and forest
planting from the Missouri River. 1t is probable
that the extremes of temperature always great
est IN uninhabted regions The questions started
bv MI Marsh in his Man and Nature are hardly
within the scope of Dr. Fosters plan, which is to
give MS physical facts far as ascertaned; but he
Incidentally shows that he has not failed TO con-
slider them. His remarks upon the destruction OF
forests in the United States are so just although he
has not stated the full extent of the damage that
we quote them for the benefit of generation which
seems determined not to learn:
"In the United States destruction OF the forest is
going at an accelerated rate The lumber trees OF
Name in accessible positions are nearly eXnaufea ana
10 extensive pineres OF Michigan and Wisconsin The
White nine Is the most valuable lumber tree Of America.
The ease with which il is wrou ct; its freedom
pared with most trees from shrinking, swelling, and
warning: and It's durability when properly protected by
pant, make il the principal tree employed III the con
struetOn Of majority Of houses aud even fences
and sidewalks. To one who realizes how rapidly the
OF supply becoming exhausted and the prod
galty which ii is used it cannot but be dshearten.
Ing 1t tree Of slow growth and the surface on which
IL grows when dsrobed is untitled for profitable agcu
The annual receipts at Chicago alone "a city which
excess Of 100000 feet Of lumber 4OOOOO0 OF shingles
aud 2lOOO0O OF lat Possessing material within easy
reach and on the banks OF canal known as Tue Athens
lmestOuea double compound OF carbonate OF lime aud
maguela-ulequaed Tor haggng ana pulIdng' ana nav
ing river whose dredgngs are caIaDe OF CONVERSION
INTO brick, IL is singular fact which strikes every
such an extent OF plank walks ana wooden tenements
structures Of the superficial character, which must
give way TO those more SOLID and enduring. Tho
products Of the lake pneres are distributed over nearly
half continent From them are built the arm-houses
which span the waters OF the Kansas and the Platte.
The destruction Of hardwood timber is going at
pace equally rapid. The railways require annually, IN
construction and maintenance, at least 100000 OF ties
Nothing strikes the emgrant from the Atlantic Slope
those hills which, in his youth, forescrowned
bare and deoate and the streams which he was accus
toned TO FISH dwindled 70 mere trucking rs The Pacific
railroads which traverse for long distances the valleys
OF the Kaw aud Platte have consumed in their construc
fon nearly every stick OF timber, and IN four VIII
have consumed nearly ali the fire wood Transportation
IS economzed by stripping eacs ne Of us bark and allow
b5rE nts Of tic Kayg valley ft for gun-stocks and
cabuewarc have been reorselessy sacrificed to these
base purposes. Pablo policy requires JhaJ thlS whole
ssc dcsfrcon az the forest BE- arrested. AS a sanitary
measure n throrgcd ciue- tic sidewalks should be
firmly laid souc or bick, Instead Of plank, which serve
rs coverings Go Of staguaut waiels, screened
from the CyaporatiOu Of the sGu balloon house. as
prOverbialy known throughout the West can be hastily
thrown up but OF brick stone is 10 the end far
more durable and economical Ties be treated at
incOnsderabe expeEe with kreosote or coal tar 50
Ihat their durability shall be proracted for quarter Of
century but have yet 10 learn the name OF the