Connecticut western news., 1880-09-15
DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS.
An Earnest Appeal Made to Cultivate
 Future Forests.


 We are reminded nearly every year by the forest fires of the early summer, of the great need in which we stand of more effective measures for the preserva- tion of our growing timber, and for the cultivation of supply for flu ture use.
 A few months ago fires swept over and destroyed thousands of acres of trees in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in those States and in others of the Union the loss accustomed by the con- flagrations was measured by millions of dollars. It was loss, too, irreparable In this generation for, while Boston and Chicago may be speedily built anew after they have been devastated by fire, we must wait for many years for the growth of new timber. Throughout regions of the country at one time fa- nous for their forests, these woodland fires have left only blackened trunks, and the calcined soil now refuses to SUD- port anything better than scrub growths huckleberry and blackberry bushes.
 It is plain enough that if this sort of destruction goes on, and there is no con- certed effort to promote the cultivation of timber, we shall not have to wait very long before we begin to experience the inconveniences of short supply. While the fires are working so much damage to the forests, constant and wanton waste of the timber in other ways is helping to bring nearer to us the evil day of scarcity. The demand for build ing purposes, manufactures, and other uses is also increasing annually, and to meet that call alone great care would need to be exercised in the preservation of the forests. The native supply of timber of the better qualities, once seemingly exhaustless, is rapidly be- coming less, and is confined to compara- lively narrow regions.
 Our forests are thinned out to meet the enormous and growing demand for building. They are laid low to procure material for fencing, and thousands of acres of trees are felled or burned for clearings. To obtain frewood, another vast area is denuded of trees. For rail- road ties the saplings are cut out at 8 prodigious rate, and manufacturers are all the time becoming more greedy for timber. And yet the waste caused by ceeds the amount of timber actually cut for use, or destroyed to meet real or supposed necessity.
 But the lessening of the timber SUD- ply is not the only public injury done by this destruction of our forests. The interests of agriculture suffer greatly on account of it. A due portion of wood- lands is necessary to the natural health of 8 country. The protection the trees afford helps to mitigate the vicissi tudes of climate, and to maintain the supply of water in springs, rivulets and wells. They also shelter a region from injuri- ous winds, prevent the drifting of snows and sands, diminish the damages from torrents, and limit the emanations of marshes.
 The Committee on Forestry of the American Association for the Advance ment of Science, in view of the facts and circumstances related, says an exchange, submitted at Boston the draught of 8 memorial to the Governors of States, calling their attention to the need of care to preserve and cultivate our future forest supplies. In Europe the main tenance of due proportion of forests on the public domain has long been the object of laws and regulations passed by all the principal Governments; but here the land is chiefly held by private own CTS, who are not restricted as to it's use. In most of the older and in some of the newer States, there are no lands what ever adapted to timber culture, which belong to either the State or the local Governments. All are vested in men who hold their property without any conditions as to the planting or preser- vation sof trees. The most the State Legislatures, therefore, can do is to stimulate and encourage the private own CTS to keep up proper proportion of timber land.
 The memorial recommends that this is done in eight different ways. It would have laws passed protecting trees along the highways, and encouraging such plantations by deductions from highway taxes. It would exempt from taxation the increased value of land from the planting of trees, where none were grow ing, until some profit may be had from the plantation. It would appropriate money to agricultural and horticultural societies, to be applied as premiums for tree planting, regard being had to the greatest areas plan ted and the most suc- cessful management Prizes for the best essays and reports upon subjects of practical forest culture the encourage ment of educational institutions in in. troducing practical instruction in sylvi- culture the distribution of seeds and plants; the establishment and main- tenance by the State, under favorable circumstances, of model plantations un- der the care of persons trained to the profession of forestry the appointment of commission of forestry, under State authority, analogous to the commission of fisheries in many of the States-all these measures are suggested by the memorial. Finally it advises more stringent laws for the prevention of for est fires.
 The subject of forest preservation and tree culture is one of the highest i'm portance, and of very fascinating in- terest. We are glad, therefore, that it is coming into so frequent and promi- nent discussion.