New-York tribune., 1885-09-23
EOREST DESTRUCTION.
AN ANNUAL DRAIN OF 5o,OoO,OOo ACRES.
STARTLING FIGURES READ BEFORE THE AMERICAN
FORESTRY CONGRESS.

sTART1ING FIGURES READ BEFORE THE AMERICAN
FORESTRY CONGRESS.
RosroN. Sent. 22-The fourth annual meet
ing of the American Forestry Congress WAS opehed Al
horticultural Hall this morning Mayor oBrien spoke
few words of welcome. President Hlgley Responded
and drew attention the Importance OF the movement
for the restoration of tho forests as touching
oor,cpltural climatic and commercial interests.
The importance OF lmparng salutary kno"ieuse on
these subjects the public schools was feiereu TO- anu
olso that of organizing special local movements or tue
nromoton OF forest conservation Among those IN at
tendance are Norman ]. Coleman. United states Com
missioner of Agriculture Dr. Salmon, of Washington
Ex-Governor Hyde, of Connecticut; c. L. Flint, eX-
secrearv OF the Massachusetts State Board of AgH-
culture; Dr. T. S. Gold, secretary OF the Connecticut
state Board of Agriculture; DIR. Eegeston. OF wash
tnptop ard Dr. Cutting secretary OF the Vermont Board
of Agriculture.
President Higley read several communications. The
erst WAS from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, who while
regretng being unable to attend the Congress- said that
he boped the people would allow the country to retain
"Ieaves enough to aide its nakedness OF which 1t Is
already becoming 10 be ashamed -. ,,,,-,.
The Rev n H Eggeston, chief OF tho Forestry Division
of the Department OF Agriculture read paper giving
some facts and figures in regard to the forests OF inc
country and their consumption. In the course OF his
remarks speaker said that the recent census shows
that the whole OF land surface Alaska Deng let
out of is 1s56O7O4OO acres toa forest
area 44O 800 600 acres total farm area T92,o1ooyV
acros. OF uDimproved ana waste lhhds, lhc1ulng OH
fields" there are 1.ll543O4OO acres IheTe are
$50 600 miles of railway including sds TRACKS IL
has renuired 900 ties for their construction
supposing that ties require to be renewed once In
sr years and that 900 miles OF new road are built
Annually If twenty-five years be allowed as the no
necessary for trees size suitable Tor max ng
Ies then IL would require 100000 acres OF standing
ober 10 supply the annual demand for ties or an area
almost exactly equal TO that OF vermont NeW-iamP-
sbire Counecicut and Ehode Island combined
But with the increase of railroads II Is TO he cohsd-
cred that the annual demand for ties Is all tie while
Increasing The census reports tho consumption oI
I45 7Ts 81 cords of wood 7I,OOOOOO bushels or
charcoal for flel in dwellings stores factories, steam,
typffva hta a a
clear the forests from of3oooOOOO acres ABOUT
eoual TO that OF New-Iork and North Carolina Inc
census also reports In 1850 forest LTes consumed
the trees on 1O,274OS9 acres, and there j.
no reason TO believe that less area WIZ
he burned this year than III lN7o'
The census gives the amount OF lumber cut IN lN-u 3s
s 600 600 900 feet Last ear the bad increased To
600 OOOO 900 ioet. which would las bare an area OF
600 600 acres equal nca.ly 10 that or Ne"iamp hT"
Altogether II appears thai tie forests OF ne country are
subject to an ANNUAL drain of 5u.1JOuo9 acres which
which would clear wooded surface equal Ia extent 10
the area OF All the New England States together with
New.Jcrsey and Maryland 10 may well be inquired now
long the forests can endure this DRAIN how long the
conury can bear this rapid destruction Oi tho most I'M
pOrtant material element OF It's prosperity.