Wichita eagle., 1888-08-14
ABOUT FORESTRY.
ITS PROGRESS INA TREELESs STATE
OF THE WEST.

Brisbin, q. S. A., lot only presents the
| general features of his theme, but de-
scribes the peculiarities and uses Of each
American tree. While 5000, 600 trees are
cut In this country every year only 900,
I 600 are planted. To reproduce the for
ests that have been cut away would take
/ forty generations. Of course no one de-
sires to turn the country into q wilder
/ ness again, but there is danger line in
| forest destruction that has already been
| passed IN many localities In America as
| in whole regions, now the scene of desc
lation, in Europe.
| When Gen. Br;sbin turned forester the
subject had made no public impression.
/ Few journals could be induced to give
/ him with his pen was William Cullen
Bryant. The progress that has been
| made is not insignificant. Nebraska,
once called the treeless state, is covered
with young forests, and will soon be as
well timbered as an eastern state. For
! several years past from $1,000, 600 to
10000, coo trees have been set annually
! in that state. Its arbor day is an annual
holiday. The governor Of Nebraska offers
large reward each year to the family
that will set out the greatest number Of
forest trees. when l was there" the
general writes, sit was $500 for the first
premium, $500 for the second, and 50 on
down to $50. Even the women and chill
dren could earn premiums, medals and
diplomas, and great was the competition
for these rewards Of the state Patches
of timber have sprung up everywhere,
and where few years ago only the naked
plain was seen. now waves a goodly for
est" Trees 10 and 10 years old are 80
feet high and to 10 inches in diameter.
Forest trees well cared for grow with
great rapidity in the west. Sage brush
land when irrigated will produce from
twenty -fvo to fifty bushels of wheat per
acre. The general gives many instances
of the remarkably rapid growth of young
forests planted in Nebraska. He has no
doubt that ali the plains between the
Missouri river and the Rocky mountains
can be covered with trees If the friends
of forestry persevere.
Speaking of the destruction Of the for
ests, Gen. Brisbin says that one firm alone
in western state runs 200 saws. In
Wisconsin lumber amounting in quantity
to l ,O3O, 10000 feet was cut in g single
year. At the present rate, ten or, at the
most, twenty years will make an end Of
the forests in Michigan, Minnesota and
WincoRsin. 1t requires $4,000 acres of
Wisconsin timber to supply the Kansas
and Nebraska markets alone New York
has lost her walnut, maple and hickory,
and he's no forests left except in the
Adirondacks.
The island Of Santa Cruz, in the West
Indies, which twenty-five or thirty years
ago was garden, is now almost desert
in consequence cutting away the forests.
Owing to the same cause many of our
American rivers have lost half their use
fulness. The Connecticut is hardly navi-
gable, and the Kennebec and Merrimac
have sbrunk one-fourth. The Potomac
has lest nearly one fourth OF its volume,
and the Hudson has declined one sixth.
The recent almost instantaneous and very
destructive July flood in the Monongahela
river is calculated to make the people of
the Ohio valley thoughtful on the subject
Of disappearing forests. The loss of
millions and the sweeping away Of hun
dreds of comfortable homes and industrial
improvements as the result of single
hard rain is q heavy tax to pay for neglect
to prevent the waste of trees.
New York has taken hold of the forestry
question with considerable earnestness
Over 200 fire wardens have been appointed
throughout the state to prevent forest
fires. The New York forest commission
has twenty-five foresJers in its employ,
located in the eleven northern counties
Irespassers have been compelled to re-
imburso the state on account Of timber
taken. Timber thieving and the spolia-
tion of forests have been stopped. The
York forest commission was appointed to
preserve the forests for the following OBJ.
jects:
First-For the value of the timber, both
present and future.
Second-For the value Of forests as
sanitariums-health resorts for invaids,
summer breathing places for all.
Ihird-For the conservation of the
sources of water supply. Both science
and observation agree that forests are
the great reservoirs that hoard the rain
fall to feed brooks and rivers. The
streams of Europe have shrunk as the
forests have been cut away. Our own
streams are following on IN the same
track.
Fourth--For the increase of rainfall
Cautious scientific men are not yet ready
to assert that forests increase the rain
fall, but the theory has many supporters
and the belief is fast growing that forests
are such an important factor in supplying
moisture that it is a most dangerous pol
icy to strip the country OF it's trees.
Fifth-For tho climatic and sanitary
influence of forests. There can be little
doubt that forests are great equalizers of
temperature, render the surrounding
country less liable to violent winds, ab.
sorb nalarial and noxious vapors. and act
In many ways benefcially to human
health.
4 remarkable illustration Of the fact
that the clearing Of billy countries is
likely to result in the complete failing Of
springs is given by Mr. Ney, who states
that in Provence, France, after ell the
olive forests, which had been frozen,
were cut down, great number Of springs
failed totally. In the city Of Orleans,
after the Surrounding heights had been
thus cleared, nearly al tie wells dried
up, and 1t became necessary to go to the
headwaters Of the river Little Loire fer =
water supply.
The state of New York Is fortunate in
still owning the most Of the Adirondack
region, covered with the primitive for
ests. It has also forest preserve OF
over 46, 900 acres in the CatsAiu rsg.on--
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
The Indians Bark Canoe.