New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-27
TIE NORTH hoods.

Most important rivers are formed or fed by
tributaries which head in widely separated re-
gions, but the sources of the Hudson are all en-
braced within a comparatively small area. The
water which flows into tine river below the mouth
of the Mohawk would hardly suffice, all told, to
supply the waste of evaporation. Practically,
then, the clearing away of the North Woods
would uncover every acre of ground where water
is collected and held for uniform delivery to the
river. There is no forest III the world whose
destruction would cause more serious loss to any
river than would the stripping of the tree
growth from the Adirondack Highlands inhct
upon the Hudson. That such forest destruction
must cause a disastrous alienation of freshets
and low water could easily be demonstrated
But we are not left to follow the teachings of
a priOri reasoning alone in this matter. These
calamitOus results are well-known facts in the
experience of other countries. If the Hudson is
to remain navigable river, and if the springs
and streams in the farm-lands of the Mohawk
valley are not to run dry every summer, the
North Woods must be saved
The matter is reduced to a simple business
issue. is the river worth to the city and the
State as much as it will cost to save the Woods :
This is the most important economic question
which the coming Legislature will be called to
answer. Perhaps it is more important to the
future welfare of the State than all the other
questions combined. And it is IA question which
ought To be decided now, for with every years
delay the cost will multiply and the difficulties
grow, and soon the sparks from the locomotive
or the cmbcrs from the loggcrs cam ill let
the fire loose to burn the woods themselves
and to burn out of the ground all hope of woods
for fifty years to come
The newspapers Of the State seem 10 be doing
their whole duty in the matter. Every day we
read fUrciblc arguments for forest protection,
such as The TRIBUNE has been rcitcrating for
years, and what is more to the point, instructive
facts are set forth to show specifically why this
particular forest should be protected, and pro-
tcctcd now, in view of what it Is worth and of
the immediate dangers which threaten it. But
the press alone cannot accomplish everything,
and il j. time that some aid was volunteered
from other quarters. 1t will be the Governors
plain duty 10 recommend some action on the
forest question in his message. II will be the
duty of the Legislature to consider and act. But
is it not the duty of the people of the state 20
give expression now to their opinions OH the
matter if they have any The Chamber of
Commerce and the Produce Exchange ought to
have some interest in the water supply Of the
Hudson and of the Eric Canal. One of our citi-
zcns has given many thousand dollars for a col
lection of dry woods in museum. 1t was n
princcly gift and the gathered specimens have
no equal in educational value the world over.
But is there none to take an equal interest in
Al. L. l. t,,,,
What this cause most needs now is the enlist
mrut of some citizens who are in carncSt-men
who will draw and circulate petitions call pub
lie meetings 60 to Albany when the Legislature
meets with a bill providing for the ehectual sal
walton of the North Woods and stay there
until it is pushed through into an operative act.