Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-01
Destruction Of the Forests.

Those who observe at all must be aware
now very fast the forests are being swept
away in this region of New York. Journey
along the Great Ridge Road from Oswego
to the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario
can be seen from the elevation nearly hall
the distance Twenty years ago tie lake
could rarely be seen from the ridge at any
point. 1t is not the region between the
ridge and the lake that is alone being de
nuded of timber, but it is the same every
where. What the consequence of this de
struction of the forests may be is not Ger
tain. None who have studied the oues
ton in the least augur good from this
course, and most predict positive injury by
making the climate more changeabie and
deleterious to health.
A writer in the st. Louis Republican gives
some interesting statistics regarding thi.
matter, illustrating the effect of the rash, ant
sometimes wanton destruction of the fores
trees. In 1869, 2,029,372 .255 feet of lum
Der were cut in Michigan, 3l7,2O0,O00 il
Minnesota, 964, 100000 in Wisconsin. Tt
get this total 6,3ll ,S72,255 feet no less thar
oS3032 acr s, or 1880 square miles
OF land have been denuded of their pine
trees. 1t is estimated that there are in
Wisconsin 100000 acres, in Michigan
"a 900, 900, and in Minnesota 100000 Still
standing The total amount of lumber
these will yield is estimated at 5S,612, 800,
600 feet, sufficient to supply the demand
for fifteen years At this rate of destruc-
ton, few years will find those new States
as denuded of their forests as New
York and the other old States. In Maine
there is hardly white pine to be seen,
most of the demand being supplied by
Michigan. New York, which few years
ago was great lumber State, has no pine
forests left and has to depend upon the lake
regions of the West and Canada for her
supply. Hemlock and spruce, in large
quantities, are yet to be found in the
nfthern counties of this State, and are
substituted for the vanished pine. In a
few years more the only place for white
pine will be Canada, where there is large
region yet untouched by the woodman's
axe and yet the reckless carelessness and
waite go on. This uncovcring OF the face
Of the earth renders rain less frequent and,
when it does arrive, it comes in the shape
of deluge, and produces, alternately, the
opposite extremes of burning drouths and
destructive foundations. These evidences
of changing climate are becoming more
frequent as the destruction of the forests
proceeds. In India, and in other parts of
the world, the same result has followed the
disappearance OF the trees. Regions that
previously were of the most fertile charac-
ter have become entirely Invested of her
bage, and are now barren deserts A SINH
lar fate in the United States can only be
avoided by restoring in measure to the
denuded country portion of its forest
trees. The State of Kansas is making an
effort to amelorate the evil by offering re-
wards of merit To those who viii engage
in the rearing Of plantations, A cores
ponding action by the other States WOULD
S...e us from the sore troubles in store
should the present imprudent system of
dnudation be persisted in.-Roctester a.
r. Uhi0n