New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-16
TILE PACIFIC FORESTS.

THE PACIFIC FORESTS
Among the more recent Census bulletins
relating to forestry are three maps which
show the varying density of the forest
growth of California Oregon and Wash
ingtOn Territory. No estimate of the amount
of standing timber is made, but the posi-
ton and relative value of the Pacific
timber fields are clearly marked, and trustwor-
thy data are here for the first time offered for
an intelligent study of many problems upon
whose rational solution the future prosperity
of the country largely depends The rapid
advance of population westward is amply
accounted for, no doubt, 10y the fertile farm land
which could be had almost for the asking. 1t
should not be forgotten, however, that the
white-pine forest furnished settlers with cheap
houses as well, which was an advantage not to
be overlooked. OF brick, stone or other build
ing material there was little, but competing
railroads transported the light and easily
worked timber at almost nominal rates, and the
forests were almost as free to the logger as
were the praires to the squatter. But the in
luence of abundant white pine upon the devel'
opment of the West is swiftly diminishing as
the forest mets away, and 1t Will practically
amount to nothing in ten years from this time.
This is one fact which increases the economic
Importance of the Pacific forest. Here is the
source of the future lumber supply for the
northern part of the great unsettled region
west of the Mississippi, and population will
naturally be first attracted to those points
where, other conditions being equal, the best
lumber can be had at the lowest price.
Between the Cascade Mountains and the Pa
cific and extending through Washington Terri
tory aud Oregon is the heaviest continuous belt
of forest growth Ill the United States, and iu
deed the largest body of cOnierOus timber on
the globe. Here are trees 200 and even 300
feet high standing so thlckly that man can
hardly crowd between them. In the moist
climate of that region tree growth is so luxuri-
ant that the forest as yet is hardly scared 10y
the axe or by fire. and it can be made to yield
an enormous and unfaillng supply for centu-
ries to come. 1t consists largely of red fir
Pseudo-tsuga DOuglasi), strong, heavy, res
nous wood resembling southern pine some
what in quality. The eastern part of Wash
ington Territory is also covered with extern
sive aud valuable timber. On the western slope
of the Sierra Nevada between elevations OF
1000 and 5000 feet is another important for
est belt which, from its inaccessible position,
has SO far escaped any widely destructive
invasion. Along the Coast Range is the
strip of redwood which was mapped in Il
special bulletin by Professor Sargent some
months ago. and noticed at that time in these
columns. The importance of this forest can
hardly be overstated, because the redwood, by
its lightness and durability as we'll as the ease
with which it can be worked, is the only avail
Al, 81,
white pine Besides this, it is one Of the few
conifers which suckers from the stump after
the manner of many deciduous trees, so that a
redwood forest with proper care will continue
ally reproduce Its kind.
It should be remembered that the redwood
forest covers bat limited area, and although
iU would last for long time at the present rate
of cutting, it would speedily yield to any or
ganized attack like that which is now con-
Quoted against the white pine Three years of
such devastation as the pineries are now suf-
fering would sweep over every acre of red
wood on the Coast Range. AS the pine van
isles the attack upon the redwood will grow
more destructive. Already it is shipped In
quantities to China, Australia and Mexico, while
there can be no question that public policy de-
country. If the Governments, State and Ma
tional, neglect to take hold of this matter the
Pacific RAILROADS would do the country service
and at the same time make a paying invest
ment if they should buy the entire redwood for
est and see that it is carefully preserved and
economically worked. The ability to furnish
lumber for domestic architecture along their
lines at reasonable prices would attract settlers
and lay the foundations for successful local
traffic. With the entire forest under control.
a comprehensive plan to insure q continuous
supply could be adopted, and one of the great
sources of National wealth upon the Pacific
Coast could be made secure for all time to
come.
In these far Western forests there is nothing
to take the place of our Eastern hickory, oak,
ash or other hard woods but the stores of Doug
las fir and redwood, with other timber trees
like the Port Oxford cedar, the tidewater
spruce, the red cedar, tho yellow and sugar
pines ale worth more than all tho gold in all
the mines of that region, to say nothing of their
higher value as conservators of those benei
cent climatic conditions which are absolutely
essential to our future prosperity, comfort and
health. The one hopeful symptom in the case
Is the wide interest which these authoritative