The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-10-27
Preserving Forests Against Fire.

Wherever it IS possible leave the trees
standing in blocks. Between these
blocks the land should be kept under
cultivation by the pillow, or pastured SO
closely as to prevent any grass from
growing up and standing in high tufts,
for such would enable the fire to run
over the ground, and thus carry it from
one block to another, to the destruction
of their trees. The size of these blocks
ought to be as small as possible; as q
general rule, we would limit them to
five to twenty acres. and never let one
exceed fifty acres. The cultivated di-
vision between these should vary in
breadth according to circumstances, to
be decided upon by Government sur
veyor. As western winds are more
generally prevalent during dry time,
when forests are most liable to be
fired, the space ought to be broader
between the eastern and western lines
than the southern and northern. As
wood and timber are cut, they should be
hauled out from the woods and piled
on or near the center of these spaces,
and then. in case of fire, these at least
would be saved from destruction.
Before commencing numbering in the
forests, or clearing for cultivation, the
tract of country subject to this ought to
be surveyed, and the spaces lined out
to be first cut over, and all the brush
cleaned up and burned before dry
weather sets in. In some instances,
these spaces could be left safely to
grow up new forest, but it would be
better to put them under cultivation or
into grass. If suitable blocks of forest
were left standing, the Trimmings of these
would go far to supply the country with
sufficiency of lumber. As soon as a
tree here had attained proper age and
size, it might be cut down, hauled out,
and turned into lumber, as is done in
MANY of the European forests. This
gives the younger trees near where they
stood a chance for a better and more
rapid growth, thus keeping the blocks
up for a never failing supply of wood
and timber for the annual wants OF the
country.
Forests are set on fire by so many
various ways, that neither guards nor
laws, however strict, can entirely pre-
vent them. These are mainly done by
hunters, picnic parties, brush burning,
sparks from locomotives, or depraved
people, delighting in the wanton de
struction Of valuable property belong
ing to others. The preservation of suf-
ficient areas of forest where now stand
ing, and the planting of others where
needed, are important considerations,
not only for our own United States, but
for the whole continent of North and
South America. This should now be
made both State and National sub
ject, by passing such laws, and strictly
enforcing them, as shall ensure their
being properly cared for; and when we
have done this for our own region Of
the western hemisphere, let us use our
influence to have the same thing &C
complished, where not already done, in
all other portions of the American con-
tinent.
Fire and lumbermen are annually
making shocking waste of our forests.
1t is fully proved now, that where rescr-
vations have been made of blocks from
them by farmers. on the first settle
ment of their lands, the Trimmings froQ
these blocks for tire-wood, fencing AID
lumber, have been more profitable to
them than the crops gathered from the
land entirely cleared up for cultivation;
and the wooded portions of the former
now are worth and would readily sell
for two to i've times the price per acre
OF the lstter. AgyieyltNyia.