The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-11-05
ne.tructlon Of Porcsis.

The constant and reckless destruction
of our forests is fast bringing Us 10 q
condition in which there will be occaeion
Tor reai alarm. 1t is not probable that
any ''scare" like that which a few years
ago went over England, concerniny the
prospective exhaustion of her coal sup
ply, will INN ediately occur in America,
touching the lossSof our forests, but we
wish something near enough approach
ing it might happen to stop q work that
is full of evil promise.
In the whole United States there is
left but one really great tract OF timber.
1t lies at the far extreme of our country,
and consist OF about onehaH of Washing
ton Territory and third of Oregon.
California has, perhaps, 500, 900 acres OF
forest now, of which fully one-half has
been cut away within the last two or
three wears. Here in New York we have
no considerable forest left except in the
Adirondack region. Our wealth of
maple, walnut, and hickory is substan-
TALLY gone, and largo part OF it has
been wantonly destroyed. Wisconsin
had magnificent forest growth, but the
people are sweeping it away at rapid
rate. One billion feet Of timber were
cut in a single year. 1t Will not take
more than decade or two at the utmost
to fairly exhaust this source of wealth to
the State. Michigan and Minnesota are
following in the same course, slashing
away at lhcir forests as if = tree had no
right TO lift its head. One Of our most
Intelligent army officers, General Brisbin,
who knows the Western country
thoroughly, and to whose accurate
knowledge of this subject we are indebt-
ed for many facts, says that $4,000 acres
of Wisconsin timber are cut annually to
supply the Kansas and Nebraska mar
kets alone. The Saginaw forests are
even now practically destroyed, and if
the Northern Pacific Railway is built, it
will opon up to the AK the one remaining
belt of American timber, in Oregon and
Washington Territory.
The railroads have been the great dos
trovers of our forests. They use 16O,-
OO0. 900 of ties aDnually-that means the
leveing of at least $4,000 acres of trees.
The timber they use, also, is not the
refuse or the inferior, but among tho
very best fine young trees, eight to ten
inches in diameter. The Union Pacific
Company undertook ut first to lay their
road with cottonwood ties, drawn from
the occasional wooded canyons along
the line of the road. Ore consequence
of this was shown in our Washington
dispatch, the other day, regarding the
legislation to be asked OF Congress tor
the relief of the road. The Government
Commission appointed to examine the
line reported that it was not completed
within the terms Of the law. The use OF
these soft wood ties, was held by them
to be an evasion of contract, and govern
ment patents for the lands granted along
two or three hundred miles for the road
have accordingly been refused. The set
tiers who have bought the lands can get
no titles from the company, for 1T has
none. This looks bad tor our forests,
since it means the ultimate destruction
of thousands of acres Of moro good tim
Der to replace the condemned ties, which
have already swept Off large part OF
the few precious growths Of this com
paratiyely treeless religion. If it is re-
mem bered that ties have to be renewed
every seven years, the extent OF the de-
mand on our forests will be appreciated.
When 10000 miles more of rails have
been laid, it will require all the young
trees in the country to supply the de-
mand for ties.
Fences are also enormous consumers OF
trees. In the Fast we are learning IN
this regard economy from necessity, but
in the West, in some States, the farmers
cut down the forests with scarcely more
thought tran they harvest their grain.
The fences of the United Safes, people
may not generally know, have cost
more than the lands, and are, to-day, the
most valuable class of property, save
railroads and real estate in cities. illinois
alone has 100000 invested in fences,
and they cost annually $l75,0C0 tor re-
pairs. In Nebraska, where excellent
herd laws are in force, the necessity for
fences, has been SO much lessened that
the fences of the State cost less IN
to population than in any
other in the Union.
The outrageous waste of timber
caused by the telling Of forests and tho
burning of the trees to bring the land
under cultivation still goes on at fear
full rate. From 1860 to 1870 no less than
100000 acres of forest were thus
wantonly destroyed. For fuel also vast
tracts nre leyeled of their trees. 1t took
10000 acres of forest to supply Chicago
with fuel one year, 1871. Our annual
decrease Of forest from all these causes
is not far from 100000 acres. Yet we
plant only 10000 acres OF new forest a
year.
The necessity for commission OF
forestry, and the need Of efficient laws
in all the States for the preservation OF
our, forests, need no further argument
tha an these facts.-Ne,o York 7i.les.
How Coat Used to be Made.
Bows in these DAYS who can 90 to q