Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-01-19
The Destruction Of Forests.

The HbesfrNCtlOn Oh EOreHtS
If the men Of this generation could have
presented to their view a picture Of New
England scenery as it existed at the time of
the landing of the Pilgrims upon Plymouth
rock, [if the traditions are true) they would
behold country whose surface was n
vast wilderness of forest. 1t was then nee
essary, in order to procure surface for tillage,
that the woodlands axe should commence u
work of destruction AT that time save for
the purpose OF erecting houses and for fenc-
ing, with the natural demand for fuel, there
was no use for lumber, and hence the forest
destruction advanced no more rapidly than
was necessary TO prepare land for the produc-
ton of necessary crops. With this sole pur-
pose in view, il may be imagined that many,
very many years elapsed before large extents
of surface were converted into cleared land
or before forests were very extensively de-
spoiled.
With the rapid increase of population, and
a change in the general character Of the COM
munity from that of almost entire agriculture
TO general manufacturing, there was an en-
larged demand, for lumber which was sup
piled from abundant resources near at hand.
in New England, manufacturing villages
sprung up like magic, aud all the time the
lumber demand as we'll as fuel, rapidly in
creased. Ship building also levied upon the
supply which was ample, and seemed almost
ilexhaustiblo, which demand was fully salts
fed.
But with the rapid strides of discovery and
invention which occasioned progress in the
matter OF travel, resulting in the construction
of railroads, occesioned demand which, in
stead of being satisfied, has increased year af-
ter year, until there is a reasonable prospect
that the supply will become exhausted. If
the exhaustion was the only cause Of alarm,
it would be WELL but the trouble is, and the
great trouble is, the effect that is to be pro-
duced in our country, not only in q sanitary
point of view, but also in the atmospheric
changes that are likely to result.
Countries much older than this have dis
covered, to their cost, the penalty for gen.
eral and almost universal destruction of for
ests, and have provided by statutory enact
ment for a compensation of results by virtue
of forest protection and forest culture. But
the trouble has been that what required but
comparatively few years to destroy, will re-
quire centuries almost to restore. And yet,
with the experience of European nations be-
fore this country, to-day witnesses a destruc-
ton going on more terrible than ever before.
New England hilsides are dotted all over with
steam sawmills that are carrying on the work
of destruction with motion greatly acceler-
ated over that of the old fashioned water
power sawmill
In a sanitary point of view, it has always
been considered that in the act of respiration
all animal life inhaled the air, consuming the
oxygen, and exhaliug carbonic gas that is
deleterious to life; and BY wise provision
of nature reverse operation is performed
by the vegetable kingdom, j. e., the carbonc
acid gas and other poisonous gases are alb
stracted from the air, thus restoring its puri-
ty. There is no one to give any light regard
ing the condition of things in the earlier ages
of the earth, but such as can be obtained
comes from the evidence presented in the
strata of the earth. By this, as well as by
the Mosaic account, it appears that there ex-
listed an animal aud vegetable creation, and
that the vegetable as well as the animal ex-
istence was immense. From this it would
appear that there is a natural equilibrium
thai must be maintained in order to satisfy
the conditions of nature. 1t requires no arg
ument to prove that violation of the laws
of nature brings its resultant punishment,
and 1t Is reasonable TO conclude that viola
ton of the law existing between animal and
vegetable growth may bring its penalty of
disease Whether the condition of things
existing in the very earliest stages of the
earths existence had anything to do with
longevity, will never be accurately known,
but it would be reasonable to suppose that
there might be some connection one with the
other. 1t is also very reasonable to suppose
that general destruction of forests, and of
the larger and more vigorous vegetable
growth, might have an effect upon the nat
urul and healthful development of future
generations.
Then, in another point of view, the eli
matte conditions are very materially changed,
in that the hygrometric condition varies very
much, or is deprived of moisture to such a
degree as to very essentially affect the rain
fall This is illustrated in the case of deserts
and sandy plains. Perhaps it may not be
said that New England is to be reduced TO a
barren waste but if the degree of moisture
is to be reduced, as it surely will be, there
must be a corresponding decrease of vegeta-
BILE growth Il is not possible to make ID
comparison Of the rainfall of the present with
that of the remote past, but it is confidently
asserted that it is gradually diminishing with
tho advance Of years, and it is very certain
that there is abundant evidence of the entire
obltcration of many small streams that once
played in their rocky beds. 1t is not proba.
BILE that any serious effects will reach the
present generation, but what the future may
develop when the destruction of forests is
more complete, must be left for the future to
unfold Van. II. IeOmGas IN Neao England
ftymty.