The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-03-03
Misefllanrpus.
WOODMAN SPARE THE TREE.
How the American Forests are Disap
pearing.

From an Address by Robert w. Best, of the
United States Agricultural Department., be
Funiak Springs, Fla, last December.l
The United States, exclusive of
Alaska, District of Columbia, and
Indian Territory, comprises thirty
eight States and eight Territories
a total of forty-six. The superficial
area of these forty-six is, exclusive
of the lakes, 1900, 1O7 square miles,
or 1,956,070,400 acres. Tho total
forest area of the 'forty-six is 49,
100000 acres, Or 26.4 per cent of the
superficial area.
The group of States and Terrific
ries lying west of the western bound
airy of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri,
Arkansas, and Louisiana, or, for CON
v%enience, | will take the n~inety-fifth
Meridian, as that is so nearly equal
to the proposed dividing line, viz:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Dako-
to, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebras-
ka, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wy
oming, have an area of 1000. 1O7
square miles, or 1,216,069,49O acres,
which is 65.5 per cent. of the whole
area of the United States, the ex-
ceptions above noted. excluded. The
area of forest in the western group,
exclusive of Indian Territory, is on
ly 1S4, 800, 900 acres, or 15.2 per cent.
of the superficial area,
If California. Montana. Oregon,
Texas, and Washington, which con
tain the largest percentage Cf wood
land, are left out of the calculation,
the superficial area of the remaining
States and Territories of the group
would be 751,776,OOO acres, being
40.5 per cent. of the whole area II
the United States; only 81 $500, 00tI
acres, or 81 per cent. OF which is III
forest.
The group of thirty States lying
east Of the ninety-ifth meridian
have an area of 1000, 900 square
miles, or 640,D0O,O60 acres, being
34.5 per cent. of the whole area !;
3O4, $50 900 acres, or AS per- cent.
of which is in forest.
The Eastern and Northern States
forming a part of this group, viz:
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con-
n~ecticut, New York; New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minneso-
ia, Iowa, and Missouri, have an area
of 1854, 600 acres; 139, 100000
acres, or A per cent. of which j in
forest.
The Southern States formin4 a
part of the group east of the ninttYs
fifth meridian, viz: Virginia, Fer
lucky, Tennessee, North Carolna.
South Carolina, Georgia, (Flofida,
Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas.and
Louisiana, have an area of 326,HzI,-
600 acres; 165, 100, 900 acres, or 50.6
per cent, of which is in forest.
The section or group of STATES.
west of the ninety-fifth meridian
contains 65.5 per cent. of the whoe]
superficial area, yet it contains bit
37.S per cent. of the forest area OF
the country and while the section|
east of the ninety-fifth meridian conf
tains but 34.5 per cent of, the whole
superficial area, it contains 622 per
cent of the area of forest.
The group of nineteen Eastern
and Northern States contains 1873
per cent. of the total superficial area,
and 28.4 per cent. of the forest.
The group of the eleven Southern
States contains 17.6 per cent of the
total superficial area, and 1913 PER
cent, of the whole forest ire of the
United States.
The western group contains $780,
$4,000 superficial area, or
272.6 per cent. more than the south
ern group, aud only 19, 700,0 900 aches,
or 4 per cent. more of forest areal
THE FORESTS DIsAPPEARING.
The forest area of the United
States which is annually denudeh of
it's growth for lumber, fuel, railroad
ties, fencing, and by forest fires, Jetc.,
is estimated at 27,27S,653 acres, an
area larger than the State Of TEN
nessee. 1t is as large as Indiana and
New Jersey, and larger than New
Hampshire, Vermont, Ma6s&chu-