The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-04-29
SPARE THE TREES.
RnpDrtane DDeo0DeDAoetoo ~ Pres
bAeat Grant. ~

President Grant has recommend
ed the appointment of a Commits
sioner Of Forestry, and his sugges-
ton deserves more attention than it
seems - havsrseeived. There are
two points Of special importance
involved in this matter. The first
relates TO the supply of timber.
The destruction of our forests is
proceeding at q rapid and even
wanton rate. It exceeds the de
mand and profitable sale of the
timber and wood They are cut
down to clear the land, which is
not needed for agricultural pur-
poses They are felied to force .
sale In O market that is already
over supplied, bringing little return.
It seems to be thought that there
is timber enough and to spare, and
that anybody may cut as he pleases
without let or hindrance. Bnt this
10 not the case. There are not less
than three hundred billion feet of
lumber in our forests, and the
annual CONSUMPTION for various
purposes exceed twelve billions. 1t
il easy to see that at this rate of
destruction the present supply will
be exhausted in less than thirty
years More will grow, it ID true,
but it takes half . century to grow
. forest Of timber, and the demand
for lumber viii naturally increase
with the growth Of the population.
When it was ascertained that the
supply of coal in the British Islands
was limited, and would be exhaus-
ted in an easily calculated period,
the fact created something like q
panic. The fact that our present
supply of lumber bears no appreci-
able relation to the consumption
should lead us to reflect on the best
means of preventing waste. I. is a
question in which the interest of
the whole country are involved, and
the matter should be placed under
the oversight Of national commits
sion.
The effect of forests on the climate,
and particularly on the rainfall of
o country, is already admitted,
though only partially understood.
But the fact is indisputable the
forests prevents droughts. They
keep alive and active the springs
which feed the innumerable brooks
and rivers of the country. A
Wholesale destruction of the Adri
ondack wilderness md adjacent
forests would reduce the Hudson
to shallow and narrow rivulet of
no commercial value. The Con-
necticut is hardly navigable now in
consequence of the wanton de-
struction of the forests which were
its original reservoirs. Already the
Kenebec and the Merrimac have
shrunk from the same reason.
Many of our rivers have lost half
their value for Misunderstanding pur-
poses on account Of the unwise
destruction of the woods which
once covered the hills that were
their feeders. These are facts Of
too much importance to be over
looked or left to the imaginary in
terests or caprice of individuals
The welfare of our whole commu
nifty is concerned in the preserva
ton of forests. A drought is not a
matter of mere local concern, and
the government ought to interpose
to prevent it as far as possible A
is not an affair which a
people should be permit
ted to invite. If few hundred
were to attempt the
of the Hudson or Sus
quehsnna or Ohio, the Government
would be swift to find grounds for
preventing the carrying out of their
design. Shall it permit few
individuals to dry up those
rivers at their sources by stripping
the hills of their natural protection
and laying them bare to the scorch
ing sun and blighting blast? The
forests are natural fertalizers.
Their destruction brings sterility
with it The once fertile hills and
plains Of New England, stripped
bare Of trees . century and q half
ago, are little better than sand
heaps TO day, and in some cases ten
acres of land will hardlr suffice to
keep q sheep from starving. Who
shall interpose to prevent further
of the same kind, if the
Government does notf Certainly
it is about time for somebody to
speak with authority and say,
"Woodman, spare that treef'-N.
Y. Graphic.