The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-05-05
Some Facts About the Forests
of The World.

OF the World.
The forests os Europe are esti-
mated as being 5O0,00O,O0O acres
in extent, or about 20 per cent. of
the whole continent. In North
America it is reckoned that AGO.
100000 acres are covered with
trees, of which area 900,000,O0O
are in British North America.
In South America forests occupy
70O,0O0,000 acres, The total
amount for the two continents of
the New World and Europe gives
100000 geographical miles.
The proportion of forest land to
the whole area of Europe, as
above stated, is computed at 90
per cent; In America, 81 per cent.
Surprising, therefore, 20 per cent,
to be the proportion in Asia,
Africa, and Australia, the grand
total of the forests of the world
cover a spase of 1874 900 geo
graphical miles. The area of
State forests and woodlands are
estimated at the following figures
in the following European
countries: Prussia, 100000
acres; Bavaria, 3,294,OO0 acres;
France, 100000 acres; Austria,
1920, 900 acres; Hanover, 100000;
Wurtemburg, 469,0S7; Saxony,
394, 900; England, 1885.
The range in height of trees
varies from the miniature alpine
willow of a few inches in height
to the stupendous Wellingtonia,
which grows to a height of $50
feet, although indeed it is stated
that one of the eucalpyti often
reaches a height of 42O feet, in
Victoria. In ScalavoniA a tree
call the sapin attains a height
or 275 feet, and the UNI
brella pines of Italy, 200
feet. The California big tree is
said to girth 90 feet. The des.
truction of woods and forests,
however, is very enormous, and in
the majority of instances no at
tempts are being made for their
reproduction. In South Africa,
we are told, countless numbers oil
beautiful forest trees are DESTROY
ed and laid waste ANNUALLY. In
New Zealand the thirty per cent OF
forest existing in 1880 had sunk
to twenty-eight in 1867, and to
eighteen in 1873, which rate OF
diminution, il continued, would
result in the total destruction OF
the New Zealand forests by 1889.
In America, in the United States
especially, the consumption OF
timber is enormous, and although
public attention has been called to
the matter, and the United States
statute of March, 1875, imposes q
fine Of $500 or years imprison-
ment for wanton injury or destruc-
ton of trees, and also q fine Of
two hundred dollars or six
months impriSonmcnt for allow
ing cattle to injure trees coz. Ma
tiOnal grounds" the yearly CON
sumption and improvident. use of
timber is almost incredible.
Although, says the Scientific
American, there are no ayailably
statistics to show the exact rate
of speed with which they ale us.
ing up the wood supply. it is easy
to see that it is being done with
great rapidity. Taking the legit
imate use of lumber alone, indus
tries based ON its manufacture
constitute the second in point O.
magnitude in America, and ar,
only exceeded by the iron interest
About loo, 900 persons are said tc
be employed IN producing sawed
lumber alone; $143, 100000 ar,
invested therein, "and 1,295, OOC
laths, 1896, 100000 shingles, AMI
1876, 100000 feet of lumber AZ,
yearly manufactured" On che
secondary interests based on tn,
use or lumber as raw material
carpentry, cabinet-making, ship
building, ETC., millions Of peopl,
are employed. According t,
Professor Brewers assertion
wood forms the fuel of two-third.
Of the population, and the partia
fuel OF nine tenths of the remain
ing third, Add this to the for
mer estimate and some. genera
idea viii be obtained of the enor
nous drain upon the American
forests that is constantly in prog
resS. AS a fact it is well know
thatin 1871 as many as ten thous
and acres of forest were stripped
oftheir timber to supply Chicago
with fuel, and yet no attempt i.
made to- reproduce.--Land and