Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09

The recent session of the American For
estry Congress, in Boston, was one of
unusual interest. The papers and dis
cussons were full of important informa-
ton and valuable suggestion, as regards
the preservation of American forests.
The gentlemen who comprise this CON
gress have made the subject of American
forestry special study, and their effort
to arouse public interest in the question,
how best to preserve and increase our
timber supply, is one of real and practi-
cal importance. Several important facts,
brought prominently forward by the adj
vocateS of forest preservation, cannot be
too often placed before the people one.
is, that the public health is directly and
in large measure influenced by atmOs-
pheric conditions dependent upon the
presence or absence of forests in certain
sections The air is the great medium,
for the transmission OF disease germs. Is
well as of the healthful influences which
come to the human system from the tenn
perature, moisture, sunlight, etc. Stats
tics show that in sections of country
which have been largely denuded of for
ests, contagious diseases are more readily
communicated, and diseases dependent
upon atmospheric conditions, pulmonary
affections, and diseases of the nerves
muscles and tissues, are more prevalent
Another important consideration is that
conditions favorable to inland commerce
and to manufactures are endangered by
the stripping of our forest lands The
cellular structure of the forest mold, the
messy boys acting like gigantic sponges,
and the counteracting of evaporation by
the presence of large forests are necessary
to "A constant supply of water the year
around to streams which have their
sources in large wood tracts. The removal
of these favorable conditions directly
affects the water supply of our navigable
streams. Having no natural resources
from which to draw during the season of
drought, our inland rivers necessarily
dwindle in size and depth.
The falling off IN the water supply is
also seriously felt in many localities which
are dependent upon water power for man
ufacturing purposes, These interests have
been very greatly injured within the past
few years, by failure of the motive power
upon which they are dependent during
the summer season, and various devices,
such as the damming of ponds and build
ing of reservoirs, from which a supply of
wa ter can be obtained during the season
of drought, are familiar to all. In many
cases manufactures have been obliged to
resort to steam power, thus largely in
creasing the expenses of production, and
in some instances etfectually Gripping
the industry.
| So much has been said about the evil
! effect which the destruction of our for
ests has on the fertility of soil dependent
for irrigation upon small streams, that it
seems hardly necessary to dwell upon
his poi mt. There is hardly an industry
which does not suffer, more and more
each year, from the gradual destruction
OF our native forests. Public interest is
| properly aroused in this matter and we
trust that the Forestry Congress, backed
up by the press, may do something to save
and increase the area of forest lands, in
the near future.