The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-26

parlan property In Fr.rce also, 70 the dangers
which beset their e.tates whenever toe ahJa'
cen. upland> have been despoiled OF wood.
and NAV possibly suggest to some OF our own
law-makers that there are questions "h'cN
meri attention, although they may not nave
ergneed the collrcuve wisdom OF d iammah!
caucus.
The Statefores,s Of Prussia have long been
not ed for their efficient management anu no
ex,ense has been spared 10 training select
corr. of fores ers. The school at NeEstsfo
Ebcrswal6 is almost without riyal,(1ld he
she cred, of the Government i've not been
stated tta' f Observation-Disclosures expert.
allowed to interfere ,ys,ttly attempts to plan,
men's or TO preeHY.fbanks that extend along che
,he sn''..IsA . In Prussia proper. however,
'f'a'' Quantity Of land under wood is smal
.son pared with the central and southern
States Of Germany, and OF late years
the cx,gencies OF commerce have made
serious inroads on The WOODLAND bel 1,
by individuals. 1t Is not specisliy 10.
the interest Of the lumber markets that
legislative measures have neen adopted. Zoe
objects aimed at seem to DE to maintain s
sufficient depth Of water III the rivers. aan
10 protect the land from foods and sharp
winds. Careful calculations, extended over
a long period establish beyond question the
fsct that the principal rivers IN Northrrn
Germany have diminished in volume COO
s,derably within the last fifty years. Inc
de.rease in the Rhine has been 30 cenfDe-
tres 40 in the Elite, 80 10 the Oder, and 6i
in the Vtstula. simultaneously with IBIS IN
convenience has arisen additional Danger
from inundations wherever the hiSh,anos
have been deuudpd, as 1t is beyond u.s.
nn,e that forests retsin both snow snd RAIN
! f.or considerable time, and only permit them
! "a f1oW gradually into the rivers beneatn. a
| remarkable instance OF che I'erlls 10 "nicp
| iow living districts are exposed when the
forests situated above them are eltnef oauiy
| N .pagcd or destroyed il furnished by Inc
destructive floods that occurred I'D S"izee e
land IN 1868. 10 the canton OF 81 N"i!tn
i there was large destruction OF NC
/ and property to the value OF tbree h'i'
lion dollars was wrecked; all owing "
! the inbabitants Of the Grl'ons, VINO huu
! leyelled the gre iter part OF the,r forests. W
I late years inundatlooS cave Deeh Oh Tue 'n-
crpase in northern Germany, particularly ID
j the district watered by the Oder; and it IS
with the view, no doubt, of preventing as
far as possible future eitastrophes that the
present bill has been framed in PrHssla, just
~ the Federal Government OF SwliZerland,
after the disaster just cited, was inlru,ted, by
special clauses introduced 10 The Conslitu'
ton. with the administration OF all the Tor
ests situated in the Republic.
The new Prussian law DEGREES: ~ The
establishment Of forests for the protection OF
the country. ~ The formation Of a-socia.
lions to effect ibis purpose. 1t empowers
the land owners, the municipal or l0c'
! t,o inf no
maud the establishment of forests under the
following circumstances: Where sandy
soil shows tendency to SHIFT into n Join.
ing territory; where new waterfalls
threaten injury to the grounds, roads, or
houses beio " them where the clearing OF Il
forest on river banks has caused danger to
land or buildings, and where the proximity
of q lake EXPOSE, cultivated ground and vii
lages TO violence from the wind. All landed
prOprietors, without distinction, are subjected
TO the provisions OF The foregoing clauses, and
must contribute the area Of ground required
for establishing these protective forests.
They will, however, he entitled to conlpen-
sation for any loss they may sustain, or for
any curialImcnt of income. The indemnify
will be paid by those persons who would
suffer from the cutting down OF forest, or
who derive beutti, from one grown in their
interest. If, however, proprietor derives
any advantage himself from ncwly-fornlcd
wood, he must bear share OF the expense
proportionate to the benefit drawn by the re-
maiulng portion of bis estate. All disputes
arising between the different parties con-
ccrntd are to be ref rred TO special courts
esa ,lisned for the protection OF forests.
1t j. further provided that forest ASSOCIATIONS
are to be founded in districts Whe,e wood.
lands belong to Il great many proprlrtorS,
ard where, therefore, better udministra-
ton may be secured under single manage
mcnt. The annual quota Of expenses 10 be
paid by each proprietor, as we'll as his share
in the profits, will lie assessed according TO
the condition of bis forest and the revenue
he had drawn FROM it while 1t was under bis
own control.
The changes effected by this measure are
no doubt OF very sweeping character, but
it must be remembered. that TIE disasters
they are intended 10 prevent are among the
most formidable that can hefall a country.
We are not without some experiences of our
own Of nature sufficiently painful. The
Opening of every spring is watched by thou.
sands of jewellers on our river tanks With
intense anxiety, and not year passes but
serious losses to life and property have to be
recorded, ard the ruin and deSo!a'ion spread
by the foaming waters Of the Mississippi
will bear comparison with the greatest
catastrOphes that have occurred in Ell-
rope. Year by year our forests are
dwinding away through the united efforts
Of axe and fire, and yet it seems impossible
to awaken public opinion to the fact that an
injury almos, irreparablc is il ti'cted on the
face of the country, which must operate to
the 6ptrimpnt ef Tuture generations If WCure
wise, We VII take warning from our neigh
bogs and endeavor 10 avert calamties such as
have bcfall n them 1t is only necessary that
the agricultural associations throughout the
country should take the question up in
earnest in order to ensure the adoption OF
measures which will rebound TO their own
profit and to the Advantage of the whole
community.