The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-12-23
INFLUENCE OF FORESTS ON WATER
COURSES.


exist, are bearing fruit, especially in the
prairie States of the Wes: and North
west. The arguments used are usually
such as may be embraced in the ques-
tion: What shall we do for fuel. for
fences, for ships, for building material,
for railroad ties, and for innumerable
industries of which wood forms a part.
when our forests have entirely disappear
ed? For these purposes it is probable
that some substitute may be found. But
there are other uses for our forest trees.
and for which nothing else can take
their place. Important, possibly most
important, among these is the influence
of forests, and the effect of their remo-
val, upon water-courses, such as lakes.
rivers, creeks and brooks, and also upon
springs aud wells.
Trees during a rain storm retain a vast
quantity of water. Fantrat found that
the soil covered by the forests received
six-tenths of the whole rainfall. the
trees having intercepted four-tenths.
The proportion, however, will valy. de-
pending largely upon the character of
the foliage and the nearness of the trees
to each other.
Besides what is retained by the vari
Gus branches and leaves, the roots. bv
Keeping the soil around them loosened
induces the speedy ABSORPTION of the
larger part of the rain which reaches the
ground, and much of which. but for the
tree. by partially or Notwithstanding the
suns rays, prevents, in a large degree
the evaporation of the water in the soil
which in treeleSs region renders the
ground as destitutesof moisture as tho
no rain had fallen.
by the absorption of the rain as it falls.
the flooding of the streams is largely
prevented; and retaining the water in
IhlS natural reservoir, and allowing it to
flow OF gradually, the streams are SUD-
piled with water continuously. 1t can
safely be said that no stream having it's
source near tract of forest has ever
ceased to flow.
In the early history of the Eastern and
Middle States, farm was regarded as
lacking an essential feature if there was
no spring upon it, and the farmers wife
would as much expect to do without milk
pans as TO do without a spring-houSe.
But now spIing- house is a rare sight.
When the pioneers settled these lands.
they were covered with forests. and the
first and most important work of the
new settler was 10 cut away the timber.
In order to get land upon which to raise
food for himself and family. For many
years there, was of course, no apparent
effect upon the water-course: but as the
number OF settlers increased, and the
amount Of forest decreased. the springs
began to dry up. and with them the
brooks, creeks and smaller rivers.
1t is not unusual to find in many local
ltles the beds of what were once imuor-
tant mill streams waterless. except when
filled by sudden fTeshets; and in this
state certain streams emptying into the
lake, which were once declared naviga-
Die, VIII not now float a canoe. Previous
10 1882, Captain DelOrac. of Hamil-
ton. Ohio, annually sent a fleet of fiat
boats down the Big Miami River at the
Spring rise; but with the destruction of
the forest along the river, the rise be-
came 80 uncertain that the enterprise
was Of necessity abandoned. Prof. New
berry, IN his Geology Of Ohio, states that
the Ohio river has been getting lower
and lower in dry seasons for many years.
About 1S71-72 the Ohio sank lower than
1t had ever been known before. and at
smiths Ferry, where the PENNSYLVANIA
line crosses. a ledge of rocks was laid
bare that bad not been seen or heard of
by any people living in that vicinity.
Lapham says that ''such have been
the changes in the flow of the Milwau-
kee River, even while the area from
which 1t receives its supply is but par
italy cleared, that the proprietors of
most of the mills and factories have
found it necessary to resort to the use of
steam at a largely increased yearly cost.
TO supply the deficiency of water power
in dry seasons Of the year The floods
of Spring are increased until they are
sufficient 20 carry away bridges and
dams, before deemed secure against their
TaYages. W hat has happened to the
Milwaukee River has happened to all
other water courses iG the State from
whose banks the forests have been re-
moved, and many farmers who have Sc
lected land upon which there was a liv-
ing brook of clear, pTre water, now find
that the brooks dry up during a consider
able portion Of the year"
Even in the State of Tennessee. where /
comparatively but little of the original
timber has been cut, the same results
are manifest. Hon. J. B. Killebrew,
late Commissioner of Agriculture Of
that State, relates that. upon visiting
the home of his childhood, a short time
ago. he was surprised to find that what
at the time he left his childhOOd's home.
thirty years previously, was a consider
able stream flowing through his fathers
farm, had entirely disappeared and its
luIuicI btu udtt UCeu plOWHu up. Inc
reason for it be found in the removal of
of the forests along both banks. A stri-
king illustration OF the total disappear
ance of a running,stream is found here in
Cincinnati. Deer Greek in the boyhOod
of residents of the city, now of middle
age, flowed with a stream of sufficiect
volume to turn mill. The denuding
of the hillsides and the consequent ex-
p0sure of the entire surface to the rays
of the sun, have dried up the streams
that originally fed it, and no water now
flews upon its former bed.
The mountains are natural forest
lands, and up to q certain elevation
should be peTpetually covered with trees.
To settlers living at the base of noun
tains, the forest trees are of incalculable
value, for by excluding the sun they pro-
long the melting of the SHOWS, absorb a
large per centage of that which has melt
ed, prevent it flowing off in flood, and
death and destruction to all
that may lie in its track. And the fall
len trees and branches, the underground,
the MOSES and other herbage among the
decaying leaves. and the millions of
leaves break the force of the falling
rains, which come quietly to the earth,
and sink into the soil until they reach
cavities or porous strata. from
which they are gradually distilled thrO'
perennial springs, that throw up a con-
stant and regular supply for the streams.
CT-nr~-~ II .,rs Tho eollovr;ro, -