The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-08

greater luxuriance. The testimony of Mr. J. f.
Shaw, who has resided upon the prairies of Hi
nois for more sIan fifty, and upon his farm,
within two miles OF Ottawa, for more than forty
years. is equally to the point He assures me
: that he has known many forest districts entirely
burned over and every living thing upon them
destroyed. Generally they were replaced with
trees similar to the former growth but that
sometimes the prairie heritage takes and main
tains possession. He cites instance On his
own farm, where forty years ago, when he took
possession, there was forest of large trees
which was destroyed by fire, when part of the
burned district was again covered with trees
and part was taken possession Of by the prairie
grass, and In comparatively short time could not
be distinguished from the adjoining prairie. Ho
mentions another occurrence of the same kind
within his own observation, in Putnam county
All who know Mr. shaw, as | have for 4 third OK
century, WI! place implicit confidence in the
truth OF his statements and the accuracy Of his
observations. Indeed the CT. ,cter of the latter
Is such az scarcely to admit OF mistake. But
corrobnratIng testimony is abundant. I have
conVers.d with many old settlers in different
parts OF prairie regions, who mention similar oc-
currences. / venture the assertion, that a thcu-
sand witnesses may be found still living who can
star" Particular instances Of the same kind In
my carly wanderln- over tile wild prairies it
several times occurred. WHEN approaching body
OF unGeT th-J met IA the prairie Grass charred
remains or forest trees, perhaps half "A mile or
more from the edge OF the wood and have in no
instance inquired % ON, who had smilsi facili-
ties Tor observation VINO dill NOT ren.ember hav-
lus observed ..e -.In- thing
Ia ..-lu.r part ~ this paper nave shown,
o. evidence Eai % may he seer Z comprehenl-
ed ~ thi- Jay ay every ob.er,gr how prair1es
have been and are stIIl being converted into ior-
e>t, nave now stated, with cOnsidera BILE par
tcEitIlty, evidence satisfactorily showing how
forests nave been converted into prairie- Thi,
seems to me OF the very of the inquiry
which eau alone be solved by evidence vi anthem
ticated facts, one ounce OF which should be en-
titled TO more weight than pound OF ingenious
conjecture.
How vain. then. are the z.ost plausible theo-
ries aud fine span ,peculatiou,, when we have
TINS palpdble, tangible proof of the actual pro-
cess by which the result has been Produced, and
that by simple cause adequate to the result
Ii the thousand witnesses who have observed
this process going D-iore their very eyes had
been IN the haUlt of writing and publishing
their observations Tor the iast half century the
question would have been long since SO conciu.
sively settled, both among the learned and un-
learned, that all men would be surprised that !,
was ever a subject OF dispute. The great danger
10 truth would have been that too much effect
would have been attributed 10 igueous agency.
/ or ms -elt, lille am prepared TO believe that
this i. the most potent Of all the causes coutri-
buting to the ult | am also prepared 20 admit
that there have been many minor auxiliary
causes aiding the principal one, which NAV have
escaped the attention Of observers. Least OF all
Of these are the facts, which may be cor sidered
established such, aud which tend to support
what may he termed the shallow pond theory.
those which are invoked in support OF what
may be termed the arid theory may have had
considerable influence in aid of the prairie fire,
/ on wha. may he termed the fertile prairie, and
even the most controlling cause on the desert
plains, where both herb. and trees are nearly
wanting Tor the lack OF moisture 20 sustain them
even II once there planted Where there is not
sufficient rain fall to sustain trees when planted
We may reasonably assume that that is the cause
of their absence: but ! AIN slow to believe that
this, or the peculiar constituents of the soil j.
. tine prlucIpti cause where trees grow and flour
i.h vigorously when introduced. The same
cause which keeps them away should Kill them
when present, II still operating If there is less
ANNUAL rain ttll in prairie than in timber dis
tricts, We may appreciate that fires from that
cause. may have been more frequent and more
destructive, while our daily observation proves
that the limited quantity of rains does not
render the soil or the atmosphere unadapted 10
the growth OF trees, at least on the praires east
OF the Missouri River
In grouping together some of the facts in sup.
port OF what may be dencminated the igneous
theory. but state a theory which is as old as
the hrst white settlements upon the praires
but because IL has been universally accepted hy
those who have had the greatest opportunities
for observing the facts bearing upon the que.
tion, although they make no pretensons TO sci
entltc attainments,-for that reason do not
feel called upon to reject it, and with it great
volume OF facts which seem to exclusively estah.
lish 1t. At least until some one else shall pro-
duce other tangibls facts as we'll supported by
proof as these. in support of some other theory.
and tending to prove the fallacy of the conclu.
sions deduced from these, l must believe that
the popular opinion OF the country is in the main
correct.
Perhaps have too little respect for mere theo.
rles, and too much reverence for facts | cannot
be content with general observations of facts
without descending to their minute details,
which in my view become Of immense imper.
lance as qualifying or explaining more general
observation. If, without the careful study of
well established facts, mere theories may he
draped in the tnsel glitter OF learned spe?u)a.
tionS, they can never satisfy that wholesome
craving for exact knowledge, which alone forms
a sure basis Tor definite conclusions. Science
has sometimes suffered grievous wreng from
some of her votarIes. who have felt called upon
to explain everything, whether explcabls or not
by ascertained facts: and, Indeed the more &C.
cult the explanations the more profound would
their learning appear, Ii IT so happen that man
ltest facts are opposed to their theories. why--so
much the worse for the facts
No HuMBuG.--We do not wish to inform YOU
reader that DR.. Wonderful, or any other man.
has discovered remedy that cures all diseases
NF mi h,1N ,sf and il, 1..it n,