The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-08
Forest Destruction.

NIX. GDlIOR 1uIs NIOIHlHS Caiuo
across copy Of the Weekly ,Suu, dated
December Goth, 1888. Almost the first
piece I noticed is headed "Forest De.
struction." After writing oil the whole.
sale slaughter Of the native forest of the
elevated part of northern New York,
the writer goes on: "Here may be seen
blackened rock surfaces stripped of every
vestige of soil, without vegetation and
without value, occupying thousands of
acres where once grew noble forests,
holding the soil upon the steep declivi.
ties, and outstanding the water supply Of
countless brooks, feeders of more impor-
tant streams. These barren, treeless, hor-
rible wastes may serve as warning which
no sensible people should disregard"
The piece is closed in these words: 1.-TWO
courses are left to the people of this
State. They can permit these forests to
be destroyed, their waterways to perish,
their agriculture to languish, in order
that 3 few lumbermen may grow rich /;
or they may secure by wise legislation
the continuance of their forests, the per-
mauency of their water routes, and the
stability of their commerce and agricul-
ture. 1t is not possible that an enlight.
ened people can long hesitate which
course to adopt"
I had scarcely finished reading the
startling facts of that piece before my
eyes fell on another near by, beaded
"Save the Forests" This set me to
thinking. I see now that others are
with me, and that the number is increas.
ing. The writer thereof %as both and
brought up on the banks of the Hudson
River. He writes: Twenty-Five years
ago there were nume erous streams, filled
with trout, and many times have caught
them, using piece of common twine
for a line, and bent pin for hook, in
places where now there is DO. evidence
that stream ever existed"
The streams went with the forest.
Read him again: "In those days farmers
could SOW with every assurance of reap
ing in abundance. A drought of two
weeks duration was an unusual occur
renee. Now, Summer season without
drought of from four to six weeks con,
tinuance is exceptional. Then there
was no season of the year when boat
could not be rowed across the river at the
place now known as Riverside, then
called Folsoms Landing. Now there are
times when man may cross without
wettiug his feet; and an empty boat
could not be foatcd across" lie further
writes "Wind storms are increasing in
frequency and violence, while most of
the Summer showers follow the forests
and pass us by. l believe that these
changes have been brought about by
clearing the forests, and the consequent
diminution of our water supply, apd that
unless something is done for their pres
ervatiou, twenty-five years hence the
upper Hudson, as river, will exist only
in non,e." Now, Mr.. Editor, what is
going on there, is gradually taking place
here, and all over the land.
believe there are men in this country
now, who, for money for their children
to fight over, would kill the last tree left.
A number of farms in Anderson County
to day can't afford one board tree.
WhyY Cut down for cotton. And still
the destruction goes on. If you try to
reason with them about it, they say 81
must have good land to work." when
many of those very men have acres on
acres lying waste and only waiting to be
improved and made as good as any.
Tell them their children will need TIM.
Der after while. and some of them will
say as they have said to me, "let them
do as we have done." In the name OF
common sense how can they, when there
is nothing to do with?
Our droughts are becoming longer and
more frequent, still men are destroying
timber right and left. Some of us did
hope The fence (no-fence) law would
save the timber, but it is going as fast
as ever. This is the objection of many
now to so many railroads. They destroy
so much wood, and that of the choicest
kind. Seventy five years ago, a drouth
was almost unknown. The uplands
alone were cultivated. Fine showers fell
every few days and kept the crops in
good order. But then there were swampy
places and branches in abundance, from
which moisture constantly arose to fall
back in gentle rain. Now they are
going with the forest, and drouths are
coming in their path. The atmosphere
is so much deprived of moisture now
that it requires long time to nccumu'
late enough to fall in rain, and when it
does rain, it falls on such a vast track OF
cleared land that it rushes into the
streams, carrying the soil with it and
filling them up, so that "Aoods" are the
results.
A few years ago when one had land
for sale, about the first ques ton put to
him was, chow much bottom land have
you?" 1t will soon be chow much good
lands"
One thing more: When will the time
come, when men and women in An
derson and Greenville Counties can go
to their respective Court Houses without
being met or overtaken and insulled by
drunken men? The talk with many