The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-31

Since the commencement Of the present
summer the territory that is now swept by
the forest fires, and which embraces portions
of the States of New Jersey, New York
and Pennsylvania, has received scarcely.
any rain, and consequently the vege-
tation is parched beyond measure The
surface soil, being sandy and underlaid by
denser stratum, retains at a considerable
depth below the surface the water from the
winter SHOWS and the spring rains, and,
being also sheltered from the suns rays by
the forest growth, loses very little moisture
by evaporation. Therefore, while the great
trees that send their tap roots deep into the
earth to the very springs of moisture receive
the requisite nourishment the younger
growths and the underbrush dry up
and wither. Many resinous trees oc-
cur in these forests which, when ex-
posed to the powerful flames from the burn
ing scrubwood, add their quota of highly
infammable matter and help to destroy their
less combustible neighbors. spark from
a passing locomotive or an abandoned camp
fire of q wandering party of tramps may be
the direct causes of these confagrations, but
indirectly they are due to the conditions
above named. The influence of mountain
ranges on the movements OF areas OF low
barometer with their accompanying rains is
very marked. The Rocky Mountains have
created vast desert on their eastern sides,
on which no tree or shrub can be found
except along the banks of the creeks. In
like manner the region which now suf-
fers from the forest fires comes within
the influence of the northern end OF
the Allegheny range, which diverts
the rain areas from it and produces
prolonged droughts. In gancing over
the diagrams showing the monthly means OF
precipitation in the Territories east of the
Rocky Mountains we find that this partic-
ular section shows an extremely low average,
and from it's peculiar topography is least
calculated to retain the surface moisture
which it receives during the winter and
spring. Under these circumstances the
crime of incendiarism which is charged
against evil-disposed persons assumes
gravity which it otherwise would not wear,
but there is ON absence of intelligent mo-
think the fires are due to accidental causes.
There is only one reliable means of preserv-
ing valuable timber lands from destruction
by forest fires, and it is to encircle them by
a belt of clearing which would intercept the
progress of the flames by failing to furnish
matter for combustion. The value Of the
property is we'll worth the labor that might
be expended with this object.
The TURCo-SKRvIAN WAR.-Telegrams
from the scene of the conflict are as conflict
ing as war kilograms can we'll be. One day
we learn of Turkish victories and the ami
hilation of the Sultan's enemies, but the
next dispatches bring US intelligence of 4.
directly opposite character. Whatever may
have been the successes of the Montenegrins
it is certain that they have not gained ground
in the war, and have made little
or no impression on the armies
of the Porte The neighborhood OF
Podgoritza continues to be the scene
of many battles, but the military situa-
ton remains unchanged. The Servians still
maintain bold front and clamor for o con-
tinuance of hostilities. Unless they have
good grounds for this warlike resolution
and perhaps they have-their persistence
amounts to insanity True, their army il
rapidly developing into Russian corps, and
coming events may still further Russianize
them. Ex-Premier Gladstone declares that
his feelings are narrowed by the accounts of
the Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria, and he
deplores the policy of the British govern
ment with regard to these terrible outrages.
Altogether the situation is strained to its
utmost tension and the war cloud in Europe
shows no signs of being speedily dissipated.