The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-02-03


the clearing UP of the adjacent territory
and millions of dollars are now annually
expended on the channel Of the Mississippi
alone, TO prevent damage from floods.
Our government might spare much OF
the care and money expended on this river
If IL would but restore the woodlands
which once fed The sources of this great
stream.
Closely following the disaster of floods
is the Opposite evil-insuficient water sup
ply. With The increased drouth of sum.
mer the streams dry up and rver naviga-
ton is greatly injured. The sights OF
abandoned mills which dot our country
and the many rivers which arc no longer
navigable, stand as witnesses of this fact
and show the value of forests in ma lntain
ing constant flow of water throughout
the year.
The drifting sands of southern Spain
caused by the removal of her forests, have
converted millions of acres Of farming land
into desert waste So terrible were its in.
cursions that stone walls twenty feet high
and hundreds of miles in length were
built by the government, To stay The drift
ing sand. BIT overcoming these artificial
barriers, it buried whole cities in its course
aud continued to carry on Its terrible work
OF destruction. In the last three hundred
years nine lenths of the population Of
southern Spain have been driven from its
once fertile fields by these drifting deserts.
But not alone in Spain. do we see its effect
for its influence has already reached our
State, and the dunes OF southwestern
Michigan are producing much alarm along
the lake shore. At present $1O0,0 900 is
annually expended in dredging the sand
from the channel OF the Grand River: u
fact made necessary by the removal from
its banks of few hundred dollars worth
of timber.
There are many facts tending to show
that our deserts are the work of man.
They were once fertile, wooded tracts and
experiments in foreign countries show
that forests are the only means of reclaim
ing them. The Khedivc of Egypt, by
planting 10000 900 of date and palm trees.
has induced an annual rainfall of one inch
where rain was before unknown.
Wonderful results have been produced
on our western plains by irrigation aud
tree planting. Though irrigation may
have been potent element in il Producing
this charge tree growth has made it per
manent. The valley of Salt Lake has been
reclaimed During the last fifteen years
the east line of the great American desert
has been driven west enc hundred miles
by forests and fields of waving grain. Re
claim this barren tract ard millions will
annually be added to our national income.
plain is the result of no natural cause.
The prairie fires which sweep over ii kill
the shrubs and tender trees which contin-
ualy sprout mp under favorable conditions
If we can prevent these terrible ravag' s
the way is clear to the forestation of our
western plain.
The thousands OF acres included in the
pine barrens of our state result from the
same cause. Prevent these fires and there
is no reason why the lands which have
produced such magnificent; pine should
not again be covered with forest growth.
| The value of lumber in the United States
destroyed by forest fires amounts to many
millions annually. Stringent laws should
be enacted TO protect our growing forests.
AT the present rate Of destruction, our
timber must soon disappear. We can not
long expect to draw in such immense
quan,itits s, upon our Rorthern pine with
out providing some means by which it may
be replenIshed. The lumber districts of
Michigan, Wisconsin. Minnesota and Can
ada. are greatly reduced, end what little
southern pine exists would last but short
time.
Great Britain, with her cheap coal and
cheap iron, annually expends over 800.
600. 900 for foreign lumber, and should our
lumber fields become exhausted, the cost
to this country which is yet to be devel
0ped. would be enormous, provided a
supply could be obtained at any price.
Statistics say that the production of lum-
Der in Canada has reached its limit, and
we can expect no larger supply from there.
Since our lumber can not be purchased
from abroad it must be produced at home
When we consider the thousands of men
employed in the lumber trades. we may
we'll strive to prevent anything which
threatens 10 cripple so great an industry.
But how shall we prevent the destruc-
ZION of The forests with the increase of our
farming population. Obi happy the day
when men learn to cultivate fewer acres
with greater care. Not in broad acres of
unproductive soil, laid barren through our
neglect, but in its fertile valleys and rich
productive hillsidcs docs the wealth of this
nation lie. Not to an INDECENT population
unable to gain their daily bread by tho
products of their toll: but tn nm industri.