The Red Cloud chief., 1875-10-14

Roreets and the Rainfall.
During the early stages Of the discus
sion regarding the influence Of forests
upon the annual rainfall, We are intuced,
BY what was deemed most significant
testimony, to take the ground that -
vet there was not sufficient evidence on
hand to justify the popular opinion that
the removal of forests resulted in the
diminution of the annual rainfall. On
the other hand, We have the testimony OF
Professor Draper and the meteorological
record to prove thst the average rainfall
over the United States, taken year for
year during the last City years, has
neither increased nor diminished, though
the removal Of timber has been rapid
and constant. Although We were in
clised to consider this opinion regarding
the annual rainfall As sustained by
abundant evidence, We we're al1p ready
to admit that the clearing Of forests did
result in an increase in the violence and
number of our local fresbets. This ef-
feet va attributed to the fact that for.
ssts serve to check the'too rapid melting
of the snow. while they also serve to
hold the surface water and prevent its
too rapid flow down the hill sides to the
streams below. Then, again, the irregu
~lsrities of surface, caused by the eleva-
tlon around the base of each tree trunk,
and the intervening depressions thus
caused, would seem to act a. 30 many
basins, in which the falling water might
collect, and from which it must pass
either by absorption or evaporation. The
leaves also present al extended surface,
upon which a certain amount OF water
is always retained, and from which it is
again returned to the atmosphere by
evaporation. We are thus prompted to
review our reasons for believing that the
removal of forests increases the liability
to freshets and consequent foundations,
in view of the fact that a recent French
writer, NJ. Wales, in a work entitled
''Etudes sur les Inondations," takes oP-
posite ground. The main argument ad.
vanced in Support Of his opinion that
forests do not diminish the violence of
foundations, is that v wooded dis
tricts, "mosses and plants abound, beds
of dry leaves accumulate yearly, and
dill up all the interstices; the roots of
trees themselves fill up the assures in
the rocks" On the other hand, the
writer CLAIMS that in the cleared regions
the ground is kept plowed and clear of
weeds, while the countless numbers of
burrows and bitches give the soil more
time and opportunity to absorb the
water. On reviewing this argument, It
is evident that the writer, in support of
his theory, is led into certain evident in
constituencies. For instance. it is claimed
as against the forests that the roots of
the trees fill up the "6ssures in the
rocks" and yet Immediately aiterward
and in the same connection, we are in
formed that in the cleared regions the
ground is kept plowed, although the
blowing and furrowing of rocky slopes
is q rare occurrence. 1t is true that the
vineyard districts along the Rhine are
often the most barren Of hill sides, and
yet they are hardly such as the term
"rocky assures" would indicate. Grant
ing, however, that in exceptional cases
the effect may be as stated, it is evident
that to rs in America the conditions may
be altered. 1t is a demonstrable fact
that the removal of forest in many of
Our wooded districts is not followed by
the subsequent cultivation of tie land,
and hence the leaf covered surface, now
hardened by the direct action of the
suns rays, Oon becomes an impcnetra.
BILE table, from which the water runs
without impediment to the streams
below. We would not have given to the
discussion of this question SO extended
q space were 1t not that the subject Is
one of general interest, the recent foods
in Europe having served to direct public
attention to it. and already active meas.
ures are being taken to prevent the in.
discriminate destruction of timber, and
in cases OF cleared lands the owners are
advised to begin . regular system of
t~ree-planting. While those who are now
suffering from these causes are engaged
in devising q remedy, We of this country
would do well to adopt the wiser course,
and by prevention" avoid the need of