Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-18
MEMPHIS APPEAL
SUNDAY, FEBR UARY Is, 1883
FLOODS AND FORESTS

FLOODS AND FORESTS.
The foods OF the Ohio are proving fatal 10
life and most seriously damaging TO proper
ty. As the country becomes more dsnsely
populated, and towns and manufactures in
crease, these Overaows in future years wi
prove more and more disastrous for the ratio
OF loss OF life, Of human suffering, and Of
destruction 10 property, will be in proportion
TO the number of Inhabitants and 10 the
value of the edihcss they build, and the ma
chipery, merchandise, and other property
they accumulate upon the surface of the
ground. What is very serious part of the
matter is that tendency OF great floods to
become still greater appears 10 be indicated
Along the Ohio the wonderful flood
OF 1882 has always been spoken of "a
phenomenal, but we find that the present
food surpSsses it. This is a mes, unpleas-
ant fact, and indicates possibilities of future
destruction that demand the strictfst invesii-
CATION into the possible causes OF the in
crease of floods, and whether those causes
suggest the likelihood OF fewer and less de-
structiye foods in the future or more floods
may be aided by looking to the experience
of other countries beside our own, for every
newspaper reader will call to mind what he
has read in months past Of floods in various
parts of Europe. So far the destruction of
forests appear to be the great cause of in
creasing hOods, and some of the European
papers are paying additional attention TO
fha
stances favor, 10 the extension of forests. We,
on the contrary, treat our forests as enemies,
cut them down by Wholesale, until we are
beginning 10 cut down the smaller trees tina.
had been spared before. As if we we're
bent upon self-destruction, Congress encour-
ages this vicious proceeding by tax put
upon importstions of lumber, importations
which, il encouraged, would prove the most
efieacious of all means to preserve our for
ests. Make what laws we may, the true way
to save the trees from destruction is to de-
crease the profit there is upon cutting them
down. This is q common sense fact which
politics and theories OF protection and tree |
trade cannot change and ought not 10 med. |
die with. Forests restrain floods by delay
ing the melting of SHOWS and the running of |
of rains. The thick growth of bush and
herb and grass, the accumulation OF leaves,
and the formation of light, spongy soil by
decaying vegetation, restrain the flow Of
water, which is absorbed in the
spongy soil and retained in the
recess-s beneath the fallen leaves
and about the roots of plant and tree, which,
on searching, will be found humid even late
in the summer. The snow, protected by the
withered vegetation, and shaded in great
degree by the influences that dissolve it, re-
mains later on the ground than in more ex-
posed situations. The consequence of the
slower passing away Of moisture is that 1t
percolates largely into tine earth, and feeds
the springs whose continued generous flow is
of so much value. Should the reader be
disposed to question these facts, the test of
their truth is but too readily accessible. Let
him examine the declivites that have been
always covered by the trees and moses and
rich underground, and see how, after
untold generations, the harmonious out.
-line Of the general surfsce has been
preserved throughout the storms sud
rains and drouths and winds OF countless
generations. Now let him examine ground
on the incline, where the forest has been
removed. Here, according 10 situation and
the nature OF the soil, he will 6nd the har--
mony of surface destroyed, gullies formed,
and often every particle Of vegetable soil
removed, leaving a suface as bare as fsg-
stone. Every traveller who has wandered in
the woods with observing eye and thoughtful
mind has noticed this. How came the gullies
and the baroness, while within the undis-
turbed forest no such objects offend the
sight? In Inc latter the waters from descend
log rains and melting SHOWS flowed on, for
the most part, slowly and silently. Over
the deuuded soil, on the contrary, there
being no obstruction, the rains rush in
torrentp; the SHOWS melt quickly, and The
hurting waters, no longer penetrating the
soil to feed the springs, carry away with them
the eurface soil, producing steriliiy and I'M
slightly gullies. The rills become streams
and tear through the soil, swell into poole,
hurry 10 tine creeks and overflow the country,
and the mighty rivers that receive all rife
and carry dismay and destruction into the
hauuts ard abodes of men. The lesson here
a. III,