Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-31
RxuAUsrrNG THE FORESTS.

| We are every now ana tnen lr1Orned mat
the forests Of the United States are in The
way OF rapid denudatiop, and that the time
is rot far distant when lumber will be
scarce article. Some OF the alarms got up
on this subject have, no doubt, originated in
the schemes of dealers desirous-of advancing
prices, but enough is demonstrated by exist.
| ing facts to show that what wss long called
| our "inexhaustibIe forests" are cleared by
the activity of the lumbermen to degree
that has greatly increased the price and is
rapidly thinning out the supply. The facts
intimate that time has arrived when il has
become vie thing, and will ultimately
prove profitable thing, 10 plant trees ex-
presely for use as lumber. The principal
lumber market of the West is Chi
csgo, and recent acconns from that
quarter cearly manifest what is
coming. That market receives over
1000 100000 feet OF white pine lumber
year, principally from the neighborhood OF
the lakes. This immense product is derived
from timber lands within 400 miles Of Chi-
csgo, one-half of it within so miles, and much
of it within eighty miles. The vast and
almost treelsss prairies that have been set
He'd up so rapidly, derive their lumber from
these sources, the lakes allowing the product
of the forest 10 he readily brought within
their reach. This facility of Obtaining
means for putting up farm structures and
fences has facilitated the rapid filing up OF
the prairies, that without il could have been
settled but slowly. White pine is a light
and portable timber, easily worked without
requiring any great skill. Towns, villages
and houses have arisen where bat for the
access biliIy OF this necessary material,
solitude must have reigned for years 10
come. Notwithstanding the frequent pre-
dictions of exhaustion the supply still
holds up, but 1t is sustained by means
that chow clearly the scarcity that 10 coming.
When the first accounts OF approaching fail
ure Of supply. were issued, the estimate-was
10 ade on the basis that any tree under four
teen inches diameter was not sufficiently
ture Tor cutting. To keep up he supply
trees of eight iaches diameter are bow cut,
change that thins out the yield 10 degree
formerly un,hought of l vas hen the cus-
tom 10 cut only such timber IS was accessible
10 streams by which it might be foated of,
or SHOWS were waited for as plesns OF sled
ding the lumber to The place Of embsEkation.
All this ia changed, and the deepest aud fur
therest reeesses of the woods are now opered
10 the camps of the lumbermen. Tramways
of poles laid end 10 end are constructed, aud
upon these, By means of Hanged wheels,
lomber is brought forward st any time with
ont reference to the rising of the creeks or 10
the fall OF snow. The broad Hanged wheels sfe
drawn by horses, mules or oxep, and keep
up a continuous supply, thus helping to
make the thinning out Of the Lumber pro-
ceed more steadily. Notwithstanding all !
these facilities TO increase the market sup
ply, etanding timber trees that used 10 bring
twenty-five cents for 1000 feet now sell for |
81 80 per 1000 feet, which is igo-thirds OF |
what sawed lumber sold for, on the average,
only fifteen years ago. This increase OF
price when trees of eight inches diameter are
cut instead Of fourteen inches, aud when the
interior of the forests are penetrated instead |
of the spots where creeks or SHOWS Favored |
removal, shoW elssrly the greater scarcity |
of available standing material. Many |
minds are now occupied with the subject |
of forestry, and experimental paintings |
are going on in many places to
ascertain what growth Of timber will |
pay best TO plant on given lands, how to aid |
its growth, when 10 thin it out, and wha'
situations from exposure, irregularity of |
surface, and SO on, are most favorable 10
particular species Of trees. By this means
much land that from its mountainous stu
alton or its peculiarly of soil is not profit
able for agriculture, will be made 10 pay
we'll as forest lands. Long ago Sir Walter
Scott, in one Of his novels, recommended TO
stick young tree here, and aaother there,
for, he said, ''the trees will be ax-growiug
while you are sleeping." The time has
come when the common-sense advice Of the
"Wizard Of the North" holds good even in
The land Of in.srminable forests