The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-06-04
Timber the Cause OF Water Supply.
The Grangers.

The relation of growing forests 10
water supply in springs, wells, and
creeks is beginning to attract the atten-
ton of philosophers and phIlanthropists
in this country as it has been doing in
Europe for some years, The fact is
known that even in small streams in the
neighborhood of this village and in this
county the water supply is SO far lessen
ed that where fishing and bathing, 30
years ago, we're both enjoyed and mills
were erected and driven BY water power.
these privileges and profits are no long
er enjoyable for want of water supply
This deficiency of water is tracable To
ern United States have neither water nor
timber. The same is true of all deserts
every where. 1t is possible TO convert,
after many years of abuse, the most
fruitful Ian Is into desert by robbing
it of its timber and its fertility. We
are suffering now, in our infancy as a
county, from loss of timber and conse-
quent loss of waAer supply.
THE CAUSE OF FLOODS,
now becoming so destructive and alarm
ingly frequent, has been traced to the
same cause-robbing the lands of tim
Der. Upon authority of D. Hericourt,
the destructive inundation Of the Loire
basin in 1906, was caused by deforested
lands. The rain fell in 60 hours, cover
ing the face of the valley and water
sheds 6 inches in depth. Two ninths
only of this water, thus suddenly pour
ed out on the land, could be absorbed,
the remaining seven Rinths ran off by
superficial flow into the river. But the
stream could only carry of 5 9th. There
was a surplus of two ninths which cans
ed the flood Could this have been ab-
sorbed the flood would have been kept
in the banks of the river. He says,
that had 1-3 of the upper Loire basin
been covered with timber, and the land
thus been capacitated to absorb 40 per
cent. more than when denuded of tim
Der, the food would not only have been
harmless but the moisture left in the
earth would have lasted much longer to
feed brooks, creeks and springs.
Science has, it therefore appears
demonstrated that wood land retains 40
per cent, more of the rain fall than
cleared land.
If this be indeed true. science needs
to enforce her DEGREES. Two or three
millions of determined men, can produce
any result in this country, not opposed
by national laws and in harmony with
the public good.
Applying this principle of 40 per
cent. superior absorbent power to timber
over clear lands, it is possible to pre-
vent the floods of the lower Mississippi
by planting timber on the treeless head
waters of the Red, Arkansas, Platte and
Missouri rivers.
invite the attention Of the Grangers
to the propriety of employing the 80
| 900 soldiers now paid by the tax payers
for doing nothing, or worse than moth
ing to the useful work of planting for
ests in the treeless sections of our pub
lie lands. Let the government keep all
such land, 80 planted, and sell the tim
Der and plant one more tree in place OF
every one SO sold. This part is not new
but old in Europe. where individuals,
| like individuals here, can't see the pay
of planting forests trees. Therefore lei
| Uncle Sam use his soldiers and his use
less land in planting forests and then lei
him supply us with timber when we call
on him with the cash. He would thus
control the floods, increase the value ot
his lands, save the expenditures called
| for to erect dykes and dig canals, anc
furnish his 10000 soldiers with u>efu
employment. While Uncle Sam is thus
engaged.
LET EVERY OWNER OF LAND PLANT
TREES.
Let the highways be lined with them
Let seed be dropped in every fence corner
let young saplings be protected wher
growing at proper places, let the gov
ernment give 80 to $50 acres of land t.
the man who will plant half of it in 10
Gust or other forest trees,
LET RAIL ROAD COMPANIES
plant locusts along the line of eacl
road, and thus supply themselves witt
trees and timber. let the owner of eve
so small lot pay SIS for trees and h
will add hundreds, to the value of hi
property, let waste places and
WORN OUT HILLS
be planted in trees, orchards; thus vii
the financial, the climactic, the beauti
ful, the. meteorological, the individua
and the national welfare be promote
and posterity will bless the enlIghtene
thoughfulnesss and love of science OF
piled to the welfare of the race whic
is manifest in the planting of every tire
or the sowing of its useful seed.
THOMAS JEFFERSON
s. We have substituted Granger fC
farmer, and $4,000 troops for the wor
| army in the ORIGINAL cOnv En-