The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-05-22

This is the case in furest-clothed, heauti-
full Britain. The reverse is true in tree
stripped Spain, Whose people have become
as prcverbal for their hatred of trees as
their country has for sterility Of soil and
sleeping streams. There, and on east
ward all through the Orient. Il relentless
ly brilliant sky and an appalling absence
of vcrdure will teach one rs nothing else
can how beautiful are clouds that weep,
and, in its proper time, how delicious a
drilling rainy day. These deforested
Eastern lands are as famous for seasons
Of binding storms, and valleys torn by
terrible torrents. rs they are for the
reverse. They will soon find their count
erpart in all these characteristics i'll
America, unless we rouse ourselves with
u will to understand and master these
evils.
Forests promote streams available for
our precious manufacturing interests.
also by furnishing vast and almost innu-
merablc beds Of fallen leaves and moss.
which act OIL the earth like Il huge over
lying sponge, to check the sudden rush
of the rainfall into the valleys and down
into the streams. Very rapidly il recent
years are mournful instances multiplying
in which these manufacturing streams
transformed by frcshets from spirits of
bessings-to give homes and food and
clothing to thousands who live in the
hamlets, by turning the machinery, which
helps them by their labor to held them
selves-to demons of destruction. For
ests also promote such steadiness of flow
of the streams as to make them sources
Of national wealth III giving employment
to skilled labor. by preventing the rapid
evaporation Of moisture. Probably more
than half the water that falls on 4 de
forcsted region in dry season is whisk
ed off by evaporation Just at the time it
is most needed to strengthen lie depleted
mill streams. The steam engine. to be
Of any practical use as a motive power.
must have its action controlled by the
conservative influence of Il balance wheel.
Otherwise its wheels would whirl at one
time with a fury which would only re-
suit in destruction, and then they would
move too slowly to be OF service. Thus
the forest, by increasing the frequency
of gentle rains, and 50 decreasing the
volume and the length OF intervals be
tween showers, also by regulating their
too sudden plunge into the streams, is
the great regulator provided By nature
for their control in the service of man.
All over the manufacturing portions OF
our country we may find instances where
capital has been invested to develop
and make available our once magnificent
and almost mumberless hydraulic powers.
Trusting to what seemed Il certainty OF
employment for themselves and their
families, thousands of skilled laborers
have i'll many cases contidingly made
their homes at a point where the stream
seemed abundantly powerful and ptrma-
nent. Then. as the Summer came and |
went. the river seemed to sicken, and |
grow more and more feeble, till there |
would be week or two each year in |
which the spindles and looms would be |
silent. As time went on these periods of
idleness have heightened into months, in
which labor and struggle for bread and
clothing, for means to pay for the hum
BILE little home. or debts incurred in sick
ness, was compelled to be suspended
The cause of all this was that the sources |
Of the rivers life had been destroyed or |
injured by the ignorance, curidity, or
recklessnesS of men who . lifted up axes |
on the thick trees far up the mountains |
where the mill streams had their birth.