The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-19
The Forest Fires.

Forest fires almost unprecedented in the his
tory of this country, in their extent and in the
value of the property which they have de-
stroyed, have ragged during many weeks of the
present Summer Il different points throughout
the Northern States.
From the Penobscot to tho Upper Mississippi
the air has been black with the smoke of burn
ing forests Of pine and spruce. Ii is many
years since the northern Counties of Maine have
seen such a destruction Of forest resources
FOrest-clad slopes of the White Mountains Of
New Hampshire have been laid bare by fire,
and fires have destroyed great bodies Of timber
and other valuable property in other regions
Of that State Forest fires are reported from
all parts Of the great pine belt Of Minnesota,
Wisconsin, and the two peninsulas of Michigan.
They have destroyed thousands Of acres of tim
Der upon all the waters OF the Upper Chippewa,
IN Wisconsin, on the streams which flow into
the Menominee both from Wisconsin and Mich
igan, and along ali the Lake Superior water
shed OF the Upper Michigan peninsula Ii is
10 be feared that, when the fan extent Of the
damage caused by the Wisconsin and Michigan
fires is made known, it win be found that thou
sands OF square miles, instead Of thousands of
acres, have been burned over.
These fires have occurred in what is now the
most valuable and productive white pine for
est in the world. The value Of the timber
thus destroyed is almost incalculable; and these
nres must hasten alarmlngly the time when
the supply Of this, the most valuable Of all
North American forest products, will be prac-
tically exterminated. Villages too have been
destroyed, farms have been devastated and
hundreds Of families made homeless.
1t is long time since such a widespread and
terrible calamity has fallen upon any portion
of the United States And yet the destruction
Of these great bodies Of timber and Of prosper
Gus villages and happy homes is not the most
serious result TO the country Of these great for.
est fires. The region which they have swept
over is by nature a forest country. Its severe
climate, its sandy and often barren soil and in.
sufficient natural drainage render il unsuited
for ordinary agricultural crops. Pine grows
here, however, 10 the greatest perfection, and
10 the perpetual production Of pine any broad
and comprehensive system Of agriculture would
devote all such regions.
Forest fires do more than destroy the forests
They destroy the soil which produces the for
ests, and turn lands naturally Of inestimablc
value in their ability TO produce forests int
worthless deserts. These Michigan and Wis
consin fires have already destroyed millions o
dollars worth of tangible property. This los
is alarming enough, but il is as nothing in com
parison with the damage they have inficte'
upon the future producing capacity @
the land. Centuries must pass away, even un
der the most favorable condition, before tn
slow growth aud decay Of many generation
and races Of humber plants can build up fires
covering soil from which new forests of pine
can spring and reach maturity. IL is in TIL
destruction Of plant food that the greatest dan
age from forest fires is found.