Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-10-20
Our Waning Forests.

In all the numerous articles that have
fallen under our notice about the de-
struction of our forests, we have never
seen any doubts expressed about the
facts in the case, or any thing hopeful
upon the other side of the question.
The impression left upon the mind of
the reader Is, that every acre of wood
land cut off is never renewed without
artificial means, and that the country is
doomed to barrennesS in a few genera
tons at the longest. by reason OF the
disapPrarance of our forests. 1t takes
so many millions of acres for fuel, still
more for lumber, millions for railroad
ties, agricultural tools and machines,
lasts, shoe pegs, matches, boxes for
packing, etc, every year, and at this
rate the country is soon to he denuded of
its forests, the streams dried up, and our
agriculture and manufactures depending
upon water-power are coming to ruin in
a very short time. This is the picture
as it is presented to us by the city editor,
as he looks at things from his sanctum.
1t is about time this nonsense was
exploded, and the facts in the case
stated rs they appear to us wood
choppers and clod-hoppers in the
country. 1t is undoubtedly true that
there has been great decrease of
forests in the old seaboard States, since
the first settlement of the country, for
that has been necessity, without which
there could be no agriculture, and not
much increase of population. 1t took at
least hundred years in these States to
remove SD much of the forest as was an
obstruction to agriculture. Not more
than Oneiifth of the area of Il country
need be left in wood, to secure its high
est productiveness in farm crops. This
point has not yet been reached in some
parts of the seaboard States, yet IN
other parts it has been somewhat passed,
and there is 4 deficiency of wood for
fuel and timber. The alarmists over
look the most important fact that very
much of the timber land that is cleared
in the older States is very soon renewed
by natural agencies. There is a regular
system of growth and clearing, and
timber and fuel are as much reliable
money crops rs corn and potatoes. On
fair, average soil, foress will renew
itself once in twenty-five years. 1t
would probably pay better to stand
thirty or forty years, but it is available,
and can he turned into ready money
every twenty-iifth year. a farmer with
twenty-five acres of forest can clear an
acre every year with no diminuton of
woodland.
In the rural districts of Connecticut,
with which we have been familiar for
the last fifty years, there has been no
waning of forests. Ship-timbcr, near
seaports, has grown scarce and high,
but the price of wood for fuel Is no
higher, and in some markets is even
cheaper than it was fifty years ago. The
census shows that, in the exclusively
agricultural towns, there has been no
increase of population, and in some of
them Il decrease during the last forty or
fifty years, so that there is no more de-
mand for fuel and timber to-day than
there was in the days of our grand
fathers. Wood for fuel, except in the
shape of kindingS and charcoal, has
gone ont of use in our cities and vii
lagos on the seaboard and along the line
of our railroads. Farmers, not II few,
within four or five miles of these vii
lagos, are beginning to use coal, and
the base burner, once in the parlor or
sitting room, soon drives out the wood
fires and stoves from the rest of the
house. Coal is found to be far cheaper
and q cleaner and more convenient fuel
than wood, even for those who own wood
lots. Kerosene is also becoming avail
able for heating, and we sec no prospect
in the future that wood for fuel will eyer
be any more in demand than it ia to-
day. Ii is doubtful if it ever will be
dearer for lumber. Iron is taking its
place in ships, bridges, machines,
houses and public buildings, and the de-
mand for iron, stone, brick, rs the most
desirable materials for building is likely
to increase as the country increases in
wealth. In some of these rural districts
there is more danger of a relapse into
wilderness and barbarism than of ex-
terminating our forests for the ad-
vance of high farming and civilization.
In sevcnty-tive of our farming towns
there was decrease of $4,000 in popu-
lation during the last decade, which
means an increase of woodland. In
a ride of an hour, yesterday, in one of
the towns bordering on the Connecticut
River, we passed six old chimney stacks
and cellars, the sites of deserted homes,
the road for much of the way bordered
by forests. Even in the Nutmeg State,
where we use some superiluous wood, it
is difficult to feel the alarm about wan
ing forests.-C0r. american Aqricul-
turiSt.