Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-05
FORESTS OE THE SIERRAS.
Their Climatic Infuence-Extent of De
nudation and Natures Restoration.

produces marked change in the climate
of a country, and that their preservation is
necessary for sanitary as well as economi-
cal reasons. In countries where the hills
and mountains have been denuded of their
forest growths, flowing springs have be-
come dry, the quantity of water in the
mountain streams greatly diminished, and
the average rainfall so decreased that the
surrounding country he's been subjected to
droughts unknown while the forests re-
manned.
The cause of this change in climate is
easily explained. The forest growth pro-
tects the ground from the heat Of the sun,
the foliage furnishes an immense radiating
surface to aid in reducing the temperature
and creating the proper conditions for the
condensation of the aqueous vapoTs of the
atmosphere and the formation of rain
clouds. These conditions are made espec-
ially favorable by forest growth in noun
tain regions and are the causes of the more
abundant rainfall Of those localities.
In climate like that of the interior of
California it is very important that all the
conditions requisite TO produce the maxi
mum rainfall should be carefully guarded;
and any action, which even remotely,
threatens to cause an unfavorable change
in our climate, so much 70 be dreaded,
should receive prompt and intelligent con-
sideration with u view of aYeTting the dan
ger.
The subject is Of sufficient Importance,
however 10 be nationally discussed, and in
2 manner 10 create no unnecessary alarm.
Some pretended scientists have prophesied
that disastrous floods and unprecedented
droughts would both result from the labors
of the lumberman and woOdchopper Of the
i Il H.,
these prophets have even superficial
knowledge of the real condition of those
regions Although the assertion may APP
pear an anomaly, yet there is reason TO
believe that the woodcutters and lumber
men of the Sierras are the best guardians of
the forests of those regions, and are doing.
most to perpetuate them and make them
important factors in regulating the climate
of this State.
Some writers, who have expressed the
greatest alarm because Of the alleged de-
struction of forest growth in the Sierras,
seem TO have crude and imperfect ideas
concerning the forests of those regions.
The early immigrants, who crossed the
Sierras 10 reach this State, in their journey
ings through those mountain regions en-
countered little underbrush to impede their
progress. While they saw much fine tim
Der and many large trees, the forests were
less dense than those of other States.
1t was also noticeable that almost every
tree showed marks of fire, thus enabling
the observer TO account for the comparative
absence of young trees and underbrush.
For many years after the gold discovery.
fires ragged in the timber belt every season,
often sweeping over immense tracts, and
everywhere destroying the young trees.
These fires were purposely set by the Indi-
ans, and no effort was made to prevent
this waste and destruction until those re-
gions were settled by the whites.
The development of the mining interest
and the settlement of the valleys creating
a demand. for lumber that industry was
speedily inaugurated, and the fine trees of
those mountain regions were cut and con-
Yerted into material to meet the wants of
the new civilization. The industry has now
been prosecuted thirty-five years, and in
several of the mining counties the work
has been done so thoroughly that scarcely
an original forest tree can be found fol
miles from the former western limit of the
timber belt. laundering was commenced
at an elevation of about two thousand feet
II is now prosecuted at elevations from four
to six thousand feet, yet the wide space
from which the original timber has been
taken to-day has more trees, and in many
places there are denser forests than were to
be seen when these regions were first visit
ed by Americans.
No special effort has been made to per-
petuate this extensive and wonderful forest
growth, which can now be seen along the
western limits of the timber belt from Kern
to Siskiyou counties, and it only proves the
extraordinary fecundity of nature and her
ability to provide for the wants of man
when unimpeded by destructive forces. The
young trees of this extensive belt of land
already give as much protection to the
ground, and in every respect are as capable
of perpetuating and preserving the neces-
sary climatic conditions, as were the orig
inal forests.
While a careful review Of the situation
seems to furnish 10 cause for apprehend-
ing that the labors of the lumberman are
likely TO Immediately bring upon the State
the disasters predicted, it does not prove
that sufficient attention is paid to the pre-
servation of our forests, or that much more
could not be done to prevent the waste and
destruction of valuable timber. and increase
its growth upon tracts of land which the
severity of forest fires has temporarily con-
yerted into barren wastes. Some plan
should be adopted to prevent the destruc-
ton of the finest sugar pine trees of the
mountain by those vandals, the shake
makers. and camping parties, sheer herders
Carelessness so many fires have originated.
They should be taught, by the enforcement
of stringent laws upon the subject, that
whoever damages or destroys the valuable
forest growth of our mountain ranges must
be regarded as criminal and punished as
such.
The Federal Government. which is still
the owner of the largest tracts of timber
lands, has been derelict in the enforcement
Of the laws for the protection of those for
ests, and while attempts have been made to
collect petty fines from those who were
making a legitimate and necessary use
of the forest trees, the wholly I'M
necessary acts of those who have
destroyed forests of far greater value
have been overlooked. If the United
States land laws give no authority TO the
officers of the various land districts to pre-
vent the wanton destruction of valuable
timber upon land owned by the Govern-
ment, there is certainly necessity for an
amended law that will give such authority.
When those lands pass into the hands of
private owners it is for their interest to pro-
tect and perpetuate the forest growth, but
in many localities their efforts are futile.
because of their inability to contend with
fires which have originated upon the public
land, and are allowed to run their course
without any attempt being made to prevent
their destructive ravages.
There is far more danger of the destrue-
ton of our forests by fires wantonly or
carelessly set, than by the prosecution OF
the legitimate industry of converting the
forest trees into lumber and wood for the
use of our people. O.