The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-31

Some Highly Interesting Facts yand Fig
The forests of Europe are estimated
as being 500, 900, 900 acres in extent, or
about twenty per cent. the whole area
of the continent. In North America it
is reckoned that /, AGO, 600, 600 acres are
covered with trees, of which area 90O,-
600, 600 are in British North America.
In South America forests occupy 700,-
0O0, 900 acres. The total amount for the
two continents Of the New World land
Europe gives 100000 geographical
miles. The proportion of forest land to
the whole area of Europe, as above
stated, is computed at twenty per cent.
in America, twenty-one per cent. Sup
posing, therefore, twenty per cent. to be
the proportion in Asia, Africa, and Ans
tralia, the grand total of the forests of
the world cover a-space of z, 734, 900 geo.
graphical miles. The areas of State for
ests and woodlands are estimated at the
following figures in the following Europ-
can countries: Prussia, 6, 200, 600 acres;
Bavaria, 3, 294, 900 acres; France, 2,700,-
600; Austria, 2,230,000; Hanover, 9OO,-
900; Wurtemburg, 469,0S7; Saxony,
1914, 900; England, 112, 376. The range
in height of trees varies from the minia-
ture alpine willow of few inches in
height to the stupendous Wellingtonia,
which grows to height of $50 feet, al
though indeed it is stated that one of the
eucalypti often reaches height of 400
feet in Victoria. In Sclavonia a tree
called the sapin attains a height of 275
feet, and the umbrella pines of Italy 200
feet. The California big tree is said to
girth 90 feet. The destruction of woods
and forests, however, is very enormous,
and in the majority of instances no at
tempts are being made for their repro
duction. In South Africa, we are told,
millions of acres are destroyed and made
waste annually. In New Zealand the
thirty per cent. of forest existing in 1880
had sunk to twenty eight in 1868, and to
eighteen in 1873, which rate of diminu-
ton, if continued, would result in the
total destruction of the New Zealand
forests by 1889. In America, in the
United States especially, the consump
ton of timber is enormous, and although
public attention has been called to the
matter, and the United States Statute of
March, 1875, imposes fine of $500, or
q years Imprisonment, for wanton injury
or destruction of trees, and also fine of
5000, or six months Imprisonment, for
allowing cattle to injure trees "on Ma
tional grounds, the yearly consumption
and improvident use of timber is almost
incredible. Although, says the Scien-
tifc american, there are no available
statistics to show the exact rate of speed
with which they are using up the wood
supply, it is easy to see that it is being
done with great rapidity. Taking the
legitimate use of lumber alone, indus
tries based on its manufacture constitute
the second in point of magnitude in
America, and are only exceeded by the
iron interest. About $50, 900 persons
are stated to be employed in producing
sawed lumber alone; $143, 100000 are
invested therein, "and / 1876, 900 laths,
1895, 900, 900 shingles, and IL, 756, 900, =
600 feet of timber are yearly monufac-
tured." On the secondary industries
based on the use of lumber as raw ma
terial, carpentry, cabinet-making, ship
building, ETC., millions of people are en-
ployed. According to Prof. Brewers
assertion, wood forms the fuel of two
thirds the population, and the partial
fuel of nine tenths of the remaining
third, add this to the former estimate,
and some general idea will be obtained
of the enormous drain ppou American
forests that is constantly in progress
AS fact, it is we'll known that in 1871
as many as 10,300.acres of forest were
stripped of their timber, to supply Chi
cago with fuel, and yet no attempt is
made to reproduce.-Land and Water.