Middletown transcript., 1884-02-29
Floods and Forests.

conServatorS of the water supply, act
ing, in effect, as does the bulk-head of
dam. In truth, however, the forests
are more than bulk-heads they are
whole board of public works acting to
provide for the storage, maintenance,
and proper distribution of an adequate
supply of water for the entire surface
OF the earth. Agriculture, commerce,
and health wait on the preservation of
the forests; famine, pestilence, flood,
and drought wait on their destruction.
All of this has been demonstrated in
the Old World, which, having spent
centuries in the destruction of its
forests. is now anXiCusly guarding
what remains, and vigorously replacing
portion of what has been taken away.
In Germany, it is not too much to say,
every individual tree has an official
existence. Wood necessary for fuel or
building purposes is supplied in abun-
dance, but not until provision for an
equal supply has been made by plant
ing on reserve ground number of
trees, at the least equal in number to
those cut down. By this judicious
management several desirable results
are brought about. The wood supply
of Germany is greater than for CEN
turies past, forest acreage is greater,
available tillable land is constantly in
creasing in both value and quantity,
floods in spring and droughts in sum-
mer are of marked infrequency, and
climate is more stable and salubrious.
In France, where the rivers Rhone,
Saone, and Durance, particularly the
latter, had annually for nearly two
centuries caused great destruction by
flood, an experiment was tried. 1t
was asserted that the cutting away of
the forests had not only caused floods,
but what was even worse, had resulted
in the carrying away of the rich surface
soil of the hill-sides, thus giving over
to starvation thousands of farmers.
who could not coax crops from land
once fruitful. In the Haute and Basse
Alps, where the Durance and it's main
tributaries rise, the most wanton de-
struction of forests had taken place.
The Durance, sickly stream in sum-
mer, was fearful, roaring torrent in
spring. Farming land all about it was
of little value. In 1860 the first steps
hClC UlIC WEI6 RGII-
erOusly replanted with trees. In 1875
the disastrous floods in the south of
France occurred. Heretofore the Du-
rance had been the most dangerous of
the tributaries Of the Rhone that
year it flowed placidly on its way. 1t
had already become river in summer,
and was no longer a torrent in the
| spring. The experiment was success
full.
Two states of Europe are belated in
the matter of forest preservation, and
the results are plainly to be seen. In
Russia, selecting one example, the
Volga is so scantily supplied with
water as to have decreased alarmingly
in volume. The Caspian Sea has, in
consequence, had it's level materially
decreased. The Russian government
is doing something, but not much, to
preserve its forests, which are proper
tionately more necessary to Russia
than to any other country of Europe.
Spain is even more derelict than Russia,
and one writer on the subject does not
hesitate to say that Spain's sad political
condition is due to her neglect of her
forests.
In the face of this and vast deal
more testimony the destruction of
forests goes on unabated in this
country. The Hudson feels it, the
Delaware feels it, the Ohio feels it, and
the Mississippi, the Missouri, and what
river does not feel it ?
But even if the necessity for the
preservation of forests were purely
theoretical, it is so logical theory
that it ought to be given a trial. Rain
falling on a forest trickles by way of
leaves, tWigs, branches, and trunks
down into the soil among the roots,
and finds its way to the natural under
ground reservoirs which supply the
springs, which in their turn supply the
little streams. Rain falling on the bare
side of hill flows Immediately off,
and as it increases as it goes, finally is
strong enough to carry away some of
the rich surface soil. Thus the spring
or winter floods carry off the water
intended to be stored for the summec's
use. Then, again, rain always falls
more frequently over forests than over
uncovered land, partly because the
/ greater GOODNESS of the forest tends to
the condensation of passing clouds,
and partly because the already charged
clouds are attracted by the lofty trees.
When rain has fallen on forest, from
one-half to one-third of the water is
held by the leaves, and is given off
again by evaporation, thus producing
clouds which will soon give up the
moisture again. At the same time,
the water which reaches the earth is
not retaken by the heat, but sinks into
the ground. Finally, temperature is
more equable in the forest than in the
open, and consequently tracts of forest
land exercise tranquilizing influence
to great distance about them.
Another and sufficient reason for the
preservation and regulation of forests
is found in the fact that the wood
supply of country depends thereupon.
By proper system of replanting, the
details of which several European
States have carefully worked out, a
plentiful supply of wood is compatible
with forest preservation. Here is a
sort of protection - self-protection-
which the governing power of a nation
may well interest itself in.-Hnrper'S
VoeLJu