Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-23
THE PRESENTATIONS OF our FOR
ESTS


There was long debate in the United
States senate yesterday on the lumber
schedule Of the tariff bill in which the
question of the preservation of our forests
was incidentally discussed. Enough was
said to prove that our senators have paid
but little attention to this important sub
ject, and do not propose to inform them
selves to any great extent if the process
involves any particular effort on their part.
{ There is probably no subject of more
vital Importance to the people of the
whole country than the preservation of
our forests, especially at the headwatsrs
of our navigable rivers. 1t is well-known
scientific fact that forests attract and re-
tain the moisture of the atmosphere, pre-
vent the exhaustion of springs, rivulsts
and ponds by evaporation, and regulate
the melting of the SHOWS, thus preventing
drouth and low water in the summer and
foods IN the early spring. Already the
evil effect of the indiscriminate destruction
of timber are beginning to be felt on our
western rivers, notably on the Mississippi.
the river has not been navigable for all
up-river boats as far as St. Paul, but of
lass years the volume of water has dimin-
ishSd to such an extent that the larger
vessels find it impossible to ascend higher
than Hastings, at which point freight has
to be transferred to smaller craft during
about six weeks of the busiest season of
navigation. Those who are familiar with
the headquarters of the river and It's tribu-
taries say that since numbering operations
hAye been extended further up the stream
scores and hundreds of the small creeks
that formerly fed the Mississippi, have
been either greatly diminished III volume.
or have dried up entirely while the springs
that were wont to pour their wealth of
water into the channel have disappeared.
These are the natural reservoirs of our
rivers, and when natures protection, the
leafy trees, is withdrawn, they are soon
absorbed by the suns rays, and towards
the close of each recurring summer the
volume of water they are able to contribute
to the channel diminishes continually.
Another evil effect of the destruction of
timber is seen in the growing frequency of
overfiows in the spring. In this latitude
We have in fact no season intermediate be-
tween winter and Summer. The suns rays,
if unosstrueted by the forests, melt the
SHOWS at the hSadwaters of the rivers with
great suddenness, and torrent OF water
PUSHES down the valley, OVERLOOKING the
RQ -
and property in its path. If the
forests were permitted to stand, the melting
would be more gradual, and instead of
overfows at st. Paul and below, we would
have continuous season of high water
navigation for at least one month longer
than at present, and seldom if ever would
there be low water stage rendering the
navigation of the river to this point i'm
practicable by steamers of tho standard
drsught.
The government is now appropriating
hundreds Of thousands of dollars for the |
construction of artificial reservoirs at the |
headwatsrs of the Mississippi river and its
tributaries. This expenditure would have |
been wholly unnecessary if care had been |
taken to protect the reservoirs created by |
nature. But the lumber men haze known |
no other consideration than present pro-
fit. The trees have been ruthlessly cut |
down and in great many instances de-
stroysd nesdlessly. Year by year they
prosecute their work further towards the
sources Of the river, sweeping everything
in the shape of timber before them, and it
is now only question of few years as to
when they will be obliged to cease opera
tons because of lack of water in which to
float their logs to market.
If congress can do anything to prevent
The wanton destruction of our native tim
Der, that something should done at once.
Tbs removal of the duties on lumber will
aid somewhat by opening our markets to
the lumber of Canada.
That country can supply portion of the
demand in the states without any sensible
diminution of the area of its forests.
Our lumber interests need no protection.
Those engaged in the business already
possess colossal fortunes, and If compelled
% reduce their business one-half would
IT'LL be ableto live like princes of the realm
u The profits. The offering of bounties +
c those who plant and rear trees has been
only moderately successful, but even if the 7