Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-16

FOREST PRESERVATION.

lie State OF New York has taken in hand
the matter OF preservation of timber, in an
earnest and systematic manner. The Com.
uissloners OF State Parks have recently
presented their first annual report, relating
especially to the enquiry which they Were
directed to enter upon as to the expedency
of providing for vesting in the State the
title to the timbered regions, lying within
seven adjacent counties, and including the
Adirondack Mountains region. The re-
port Is unanimously signed, and finds.
that III the interest of the whole State, the
protection OF great portion of that forest
from wanton destruction is absolutely and
Immediately required The idea is not to
make an expensive park for recreative
purpose. but to preserve the timber as Il
measure OF political economy. In this
territory, which may broadly speaking,
be called wilderness, there are I. 730.-
600 acres. The agricultural products are.
ana Tor many years mus be, comparative
~, the report says, 'absolutelyn nothing,
when compared with the products of the
forest. The mineral wealth is not inferior
to that OF the forests, iron existing in re-
inarkaole purity and enormous quantities
In addition, there are beds of serpentinc
/ (verde. antique marble. so called), soap.
stone, deposits OF graphite and granite In
the early days OF iron manufacture In this
region, wood charcoal was used, and large
sections In Essex county were denudcd oil
, trees, the result being that the smaller
streams have entirely dried up
The greater part OF the Adirondack com.
! t:y is to-day an almost prmeval forest il j.
: mountainous; it is full of lakes and brook.
and rivers its forests have, in the opinion
OF the Commissioners, a powerful infln-
ence upon the general climatology of thu
state; upon the rainfall, winds and tenn
peratule; moderating storms and equal
izinS throughout the year the amount OF
moisture carried by the atmosphere; con
trolling, and in measure suborning, the
powerful northerly winds, modifying
their coldness and equalzing the tempera
ture OF the whole State. 1t is now conced-
ed generally that forests do not iucreas,
ne rainfall they cause distribution III
the rain in frequent showers throughout
the year; they prevent sudden and over
whelming floods by the rapid melting OF
the winters snow. Already the destruc-
hon OF timber in and about this region has
affected the water supply of the canal,
and the mill owners on some OF the laroer
streams.
! There is little doubt. we suppose, as to
the reception this report will meet at the
hands OF the State. Ii its recommendation
should be carried out, and the forests pre- .
q served, and such new plantations mad.
5 as will in time replace the old forest cut,
= oil and never supplemented by a new
gowth. there will eventually be gained
Il practical knowledge which, however
much we may oppose its correctness the
oretically, will be an unanswerable argu-
mcnt, much needed, to awaken our people
generally to the importance of agriculture
Nor is il Il long time to wait, if we have {.
proper regard for posterity. Some OF the
most magnificent and valuable forests in
Scotland were planted within the memory
OF its older inhabitants.