Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-07-19
FORESTS.

FUnGOtO.
Que source of wealth which this country
Possesses. Is her immense and magnificent
forests. Most persons We are SIRE regard
forests as worthless, but those who are
better informed know that they po-sess
mcst valuable articles Of commerce, and
the supply in the Northern and North
western States has been 50 heavily drawn
upon that the South is looked to to supply
the future demand. II Louisiana bad the
means Of transportation that would give
her a market for III" timber Of her great
m-diately increase her wealth and com
mrrce. Ii is strange that our people
value their timber 80 lightly, and often
destroy il 40 wantnnly. In many Of the
STATE. stringent laws are enforced to pro-
trct the timber. In til, az States the value
of timber is known. Here We have not
yet realized what great wealth We have
in our forests, and they are destroyed
wantonly and turned to 10 valuable use.
When we l-ran their real value, we will
guard and protect them rs we would
mines of gold aud silver. 1t is almost
certain that the magnificent forests Of
this State will yet Ice tue cause of bring
ing railroads through nearly every section
Of tho State. The timber Of our FOREST.
will soon be ip demand and the demand
can I've supplied from 10 other county.
Theu will railroads he pushed into every
port Of the State for the purpose of con-
vcyiug our timber to where it is wanted,
aud will command money. and at no dis
tant day the people will realize the great
wealth there is III such forests as ARE found
in almost every portion of our State.
But forests have another kind Of value
which should eutltlc them TO protection.
Forests no doubt have grrat influence IN
the climate of n country. In those States
where the forests have disappeared there
are long drouths, aud severe wind-storIns
are frequent Many books have been
written on this subject, aud il may be re-
gardrd a, we'll settled that forests have "a
greet influence on the climate Of u country.
The destruction of forests will ultimately
result III lnng protrut.d dronths, followed
hy sudden aud vioient storms il"@ls,
fcshets, and etc. The wind sweeps over
the country without anything to ohstruct
il. The soil being wholly unprotected 10y
shade, rapidly becomes dry, the streams
grow shallow and disappear, and the
climate, in short, becomes u succession of
drouths aud storms. Results like these
have followed the destruction Of the
forests in other countries, and it is oml!
reasonable to cnnclnde that the same con.
sequences would attend the complete de-
strucfon of our own forests. If thr-.
thing, are true, il il AT once apparent that
our forests are Of great value, not alone
on accounted the money that they r'pr,.-
seut 10y the timber h,ing brought into
commerce. hut MS protection "f thu
climate. The forests of the South ATE
capable of Supplying the demand of the
country for timber for year, To- come. and
still leave timber sufficient To- protect the
climate, if they are used iudiciuu,ly. The
State should have on her statute hooks
law on this subject, and il should hr
enforced. The country is just now awaken
ing on this subject, and it is to be- hoped
that good results will follow.