The Red Cloud chief., 1884-09-19

The following article op-ns ~ : rs-y
Interesting and important sab~ri We
arr glad "a cal Ltts utson - a. We 81
lot quite agrre wiih the wrSi-r n io Tbs
time rs4nsr-d to grow a pine forest
We oase 4oid n auc;.on . psas groHil
II forty wear. for hapdr~i dollars
per acre. for the vOs-i standing. = iih0g:
she land
Every nov and then we r~zi % = hrr
ia TIE wood. which burns up snyN b~rr
from \ fex thousand 10 = million dol
lars' worth or morr q! property; tu, uui
these rayag-. were brought tog-;hef IA
re view. by the MAJ a1oat 80 - pub
li-hcd by the United States Census
Bureau. D; i probable that ~ n hss.
an adequate idea of the vide range
and the vast amount y. the danasv
done.
wihou, going into particulars. i Is
safe TO say that n. prevention %! these
hire, IL one %. the mos, serious econ-
omical questions The direct value &C.
stroyel i probably greater than ,ha. oi
al the lumber Cui-whc h - no; lee.
than three hundred million dolla-s =
yssr-ani the incidental damage i q
mans eases far greater than the direct
Cutting trees does not necessarily hin-
de- the land from growing more aud
better ones; in fact /; often helps 20
that result. Bur burning them 90
frequently destroys no, only thosi
large enough to IT, cut but also \ vo<,ls
greater number which Ar ro; large
enough. Worse Vet. !; not only IL |.
the seed in the ground. tu, also burns
ont the vegetable substanc. in the soil
tself. rendering IL for a .ong time inca.
pable Of raising anything bat hre-weei
or bramblrs. aud then. later on. some
81 the Trees least valuable for fuel o.
timber. In the ease Of broad leayei
trees, We may saw that not less than
fifty Years. and. in tie case VI white
pIne-for which the soil and climate of
New England are 80 peculiarly adapted
not less than one hundred year. viii
generally. under the most favorable ci--
c~inIstances, be necessary before thr
same TIRE : a be- grown again.
Where the underlying slopes are
steep this denuding and roasting Of the
soil often results in il, being washed
away by rains and il the rock beneath
j. a hard one. such ~ granite. 10 MAY
be- centuries before heat. frost and the
humber kinds ot yegeiaDl. life can 80
disintegra,e and liz II that it will raise
trees.
Still further. n great indirect damage
is done by these frequent conilagratipus.
because they make owners of land -
uncertain Of the future that they are
tempted la cut their trees when small
and thickly crowded. so "a To get n
much IS possible from them for fucl
before fires may destroy them and 81
course this uncertainty is also n strong
argument against that planting which
advocates OF forestry urge 80 earnestly.
The first and most pressing matter
then 10 be attended 10 il we are to con
tinue to enjoy a supply Of timber. with
out which We al not long have pros
porous civilization. is To- make or find =
way u prevent, as far n nay be. the
starting Of these fires. and their spread
il nee they do get under way. For the
first we nee more stringent leg,sls
ton. such as making il as much felony
to burn woods rs houses irD nationally,
and a criminal oiiense u set the ire
carelessly. Large bounties should be
offered for the detection Of offenders
Owners Of woodland should be com
PEELED to burn or remove all the tops,
branches and other debris OF logging,
and fallen limbs and trees from stand
ing timber. This has been recent.
urged by a leading lumber journal
Pleasure seekers should not be allowed
to enter extensive forests, such n
the Adirondacks, without n guide IL
censcd by the Sia.c. and he should b.
held responsible for fires let or left by
parties under his enlarge. Especially
railroads should be compelled TO put
spark upon all locomotives
1t is said that three lately built for Van
derbilt work TO entire satisfaction. IL
facilitate the fighting of those fires
which do get started. there should b'
maintained. as in the French forests %
maritime pine. frequent roads not les
than four rods wide. which should b.
kept absolutely clear OF combustibl,
material - 0ngregationaiist.