The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-09-20


The following article opens up very
interesting and important subject. We
are glad to call attention to it. We do
lot quite agree with the writer as to the
time required to grow pine forest.
We once sold at auction pine growth
of forty years for one hundred dollars
per acre, for the wood standing. without
the land.
Every now and then we read of fine
in the woods which burns up anywhere
from few Thousand to mill ON dol
lars worth or more of property; but uutil
these ravages were brought together in
one view, by the map about to be pub
lished by the United States Census
Bureau, it is probable that no one had
an adequate idea of the wide range
and the vast amount of the damage
done.
Without going into particulars. IL is
safe to say that the prevention of these
fires is one of the most serious econ
omical questions. The direct value de-
stroyed is probably greater than that of
oil the lumber cut-which is not less
than three hundred million dollars a
year-and the incidental damage is in
many cases far greater than the direct
Cutting trees does not necessarily him
der the land from growing more and
better ones; in fact, it often helps to
that result But burning them of
frequently destroys not only those
large enough to be cut, but also vastly
greater number which are not large
enough. Worse yet, it not only kills
the seed in the ground, but also burns
out the vegetable substance in the soil
itself, rendering it for long time inca
pable of raising anything but fire-weed
or brambles, and then, later on, some
of the trees least valuable for fuel or
timber. In the case of broad-leaved
Itrees, we may say that not less than
fifty years, and, in the case of white
pine for which the soil and climate of
New England are so peculiarly adapted
not less than one hundred years will
generally, under the most favorable ci :
cumstances, be necessary before the
same tire S can be grown again.
Where the underlying slopes are
steep this dennding and roasting of the
soil often results in its being washed
away by rains; and if the rock beneath
is a hard one, such as granite, it may
lbe centuries before heat, frost and the
humber kinds of vegetable life can so
hisintegrate and fix it that it will raise
trees.
Still further, great indirect damage
is done by these frequent CONGREGATIONS,
because they make owners of land 50
uncertain of the future that they are
tempted to cut their trees when small
and thickly crowded, so as to get as
much as possible from them for fuel
before fires may destroy them; and of
course this uncertainty is also a strong
argument against that planting which
advocates OF forestry urge SO earnestly.
The first and most pressing matter
then to be attended TO ii we are to con-
tinue to enjoy supply of timber, with
out which we can not long have pros
porous civilization, is to make or find
way to prevent, as far as may be, the
starting of these fires, and their spread
ii once they do get under way For the
first we need more stringent legisla-
tion. such as making it as much felony
TO burn woods as houses Intentionally,
and criminal offense to set the fires
carelessly. Large bounties should be.
offered for the detection OF offenders,
Owners of woodland should be COM
pcilcu W UuTH OF IculOVc Ill b06 UOpS,
branches and other debris of logging,
and fallen limbs and trees from stand
ing timber. This has been recently
urged by leading lumber journals
Pleasure seekers should not be allowed
TO enter extensive forests, such as
Che Adirondacks, without guide IL
censed by the State, and he should be
held responsible for fires set or left by
parties under his charge. Especially
railroads should be compelled to put
spark consumers upon all locomotives,
1t is said that three lately built for Van
derbilt work to entire satisfaction. To
facilitate the fighting of those fires
which do get started, there should be
maintained, as in the French forests Of
maritime pine, frequent roads not less
than four rods wide, which should be
kept absolutely clear OF combustible
material. L. Congregationalist.