The Portland daily press., 1874-08-10
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING, AUG. 10. 1874
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Timber versus Civilization.

any Newfoundland and sees hill and valley
covered with dense forest, and the surface
of the earth completely hidden from view, he
very naturally and correctly decides that the
country must be inhabited by savages ard
wild beasts. And if civilization ever finds en-
trance therein, it will be seen that its most
effective agent, more potent than the magi-
clans wand, is the woodman's axe, which
levels the forest and let's in the sun, and in
PRODUCES grass and grain, flocks and herds,
families and homes. The spontaneous growth
oil nature in all its pride and majesty, gives
place to the artificial productions of man,
humber in their externals, but higher and
deeper in far reaching results,
In the song Of the poet and the page of The
historian we find it recorded, that the prog
ress of civilization is marked by the disap-
pearance of the forest.
. On the other hand, let the tillers of the sol
be removed from their lands by decree of gov
erment, or voluntary emigration, Or any 9TH
er cause, and it is marvel to see how soon
ever watching and waiting nature resumes
her sceptre and sway; how skillfully her myr-
lad corps Of sappers and miners level to the
earth the works of man; how rapidly the
trees spring up and hasten with unaccus-
toned luxuriance to hide field and furrow
and to shut out the sun from those sheltering
haunts which beast and bird so soon find cut
and return 10. Were it necessary, multi
tude of illustrations might be adduced in con-
frmation of the declaration, that on the face
of nature, the decline of civilization is marked
by the return of the forest.
Where land is fit for cultivation, the surren-
der of any part of it for the growth of timber,
necessarily involves corresponding diminu-
tion in its capacity for supporting the human
family; and it must be in accordance with
sound political economy to so adjust its prin-
ciples to practice, that every acre will support
a man, rather than a thicket of oaks or pines
Without doubt large tract of timber serves
a good purpose in swelling the columns of a
town valuation, but it is still mooted ques-
tion whether any farming town would not
be better off without such a possession.
Farmers themselves are usually the work
ing men in timber operations, and during
the long winter they are absent from house
and barn, taking from the farm their
cattle, hay and manure; both man and beast
returning in the spring enfeebled and unfit
ted for the summer campaign on the farm.
The Generalization of camp life, the expos
ure of life and limb, in the woods, and on
the rivers that bear the fallen trees to mar
ket, added to the not uncommon experience
of failure.to receive any return from dishon-
est buyers, almost brand the entire business
with condemnation.
One Of the heaviest ,oads under which far
mers as class sweat and groan,-resulting
from the existence of timber forests-s the
maintenance of fences. Were any despotc
government to undertake the imposition OF
such tax upon its subjects, the immediate
result would be revolution; ) but in this case
as the burden is self-imposed, there is no re-
sistance. Ordinarily, instructive lessons can
he learnnd from, tn a.rranria,.a4 e.f a.l.a..
tries, but here it is OF no avail; but when the
necessary supply is cut off by the destruction
of forests, then it is to be hoped that agricul-
turi.ts as body will discover that this ex-
pensive luxury can be dispensed with, and
that for this unnecessary Indulgence they
have a long time voluntarily defrauded them
selves.
In framing our indictment, however,
against the forest in the interests of civiliza-
tion, the gravest charge we bring is, that il
affords a fatal facility for the construction o.
buildings of wood. In the infancy of towr
and state, there is often necessity and con-
sequently an excuse for resortirg to cheaI
and perishable material in constructing pub
lie and private buildings; but nothing cal
justify the permanent adoption of such
practice. We believe the policy to be at wa
with the welfare of the individual and tn,
state ;-although we admit it cannot be avoid
| ed always and everywhere-to the former be
cause he uses an expensive material which
needs continual repair on account of its rap
id decay, affording, at the best, short lve'
| shelter, ard dangerous from constant expos
to the swift destruction of fire and flood an
tempest; to the latter, because its own per
manence rests upon the security of the indi
vidual, and it is the supreme duty of tn
state 10 furnish opportunity for the safe il
vestment of property and life.
| In the sacred economy of the Jewish ma
ton, we notice that successive steps of prog
ress are marked by the tent, the tabernacle
and the temple; in our country, by the 10
cabin, the wooden cottage, and the 1ansio
of brick or stone; the Arab of the desert, an
the Indian of America and the wanderin
gypsy, are fair types of those nations VIII
never get beyond their rudimental condition
The allusion to national characteristic sus
gests, that much of the difference betwee
the peasantry of ireland and England, ma
be attributed to their dwelling places: the OIL
contending with domestic animals for th
rude shelter of their wooden novels, the 9th
occupying ancestral homes whose massi7
walls centuries have not disturbed. Much
the impulsiyeness and unreliablity OF I'll
one, and the endurance and perseverance
the other, may be not unphlosophically a
tributed to their surroundings. Could Il
institutions of learning and religion and
the state, with all their treasures of literatu
and art have been preserved through the dal
ages, withstanding the assaults of time and Il
elements and man, had there been
more wisdom displayed in their safe keepil
than is manifested in our own countr,
Whose prophetic eye can see, and what sa
can tell, how much of us that is wor
transmitting the next few centuries W
ever see?
As a test Of good governments, that one M
be called best which is the most solicitous,
wise and just administration, to fasten
people in the most permanent homes to t
soil; and that will be the strongest govel
ment, which derives its power and rescue
from such people.
The man who dwells under roof VIII
: he believes will shelter his descendants
hundreds of years, labors for permanent
= provements, and looking further, he stri
, TO perpetuate good government that 81
protect his own flesh and blood in the enj
ment of such home. Thus springs Il
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