, 1888-08-16

Objects-
In writing on forestry Gen, James S.
Brisbin, U. s. A, not only presents the
general features of his theme, but de-
scribes the peculiarities and uses of each
American tree. While 5000, 900 trees are
cut in this country every year only !, 000,-
900 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 o wilder
ness again, but there is a 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. Brisbin turned forester the
subject had made no public impression.
Few journals could be induced to give
him q hearing. One of the first to aid
him with his pen was William Cullen
Bryant. The progress that has been
made is not insignificant. Nebraska,
once called the t~reeless state, is covered
with young forests, and will soon be as
well timbered as an eastern state. For
several years past from 10, 000, 900 to
20,000,0 900 trees have been set annually
in that state. Its arbor day is an annual
holiday. The governor Of Nebraska offers
a large reward each year to the family
that will set out the greatest number Of
forest trees. when / was there" the
general writes, 'it was $500 for the first
premium, $400 for the second, and so on
down to $25. 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,
where a few years ago only the naked
plain was seen, now waves a goodly for
est" Trees 10 and 10 years old are 30
Good Lto.l a-I o - n l. -
Forest trees well cared for grow with
great rapidity in the west. Sage brush
land when irrigated will produce from
twenty-five 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 nc
doubt that all 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 q western state run 200 saws, In
Wisconsin lumber amounting in quantity
to 1,030, 000, 900 feet was cut in a single
year. At the present rate, ten or, at the
most, twenty years will make an end of
the forests in Michigan, Minnesota and
Winconsin. 1t requires so, 600 acres of
Wisconsin timber to supply the Kansas
and Nebraska markets alone. New York
has lost her walnut, maple and hickory,
and has no forests left except in the
Adirondacks.
The island of Santa Cruz, in the West
Indies, which twenty-five or thirty years
ago was a garden, Is now almost a desert
in consequence of 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 Kennebeo and Merrimac
have shrunk one-fourth. The Potomac
has lost nearly one-fourth of its volume,
and the Hudson has declined one-sixth.
The recent almost instantaneous and very
destructive July food 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 h result of a single
hard rain is a heavy tax to pay for neglect
to prevent the waste Of trees.
New York has taken hold of the forestry
question with considerable ea-rnestness.
Over 200 IRE wardens have been appointed
throughout the state to prevent forest
fires. The New York forest commission
has twenty-five foresters In its employ,
located in the eleven northern countiea.
Trespassers have been compelled to re-
imburse the state on account of timber
taken. Timber thieving and the spolia-
ton of forests have been stopped. Tho
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 invalids,
summer breathing places for all.
Third-For the conservation of the
sources of water supply. Both science
n 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
n the belief is fast growing that forests
are such an important factor in supplying
moisture that 1t is q most dangerous pol
icy to strip the country Of it's trees.
Nfth-For the climatic and sanitary
doubt that forests are great equalizers of
temperature, render the surrounding
country less liable to violent winds, alb
sorb malarial mt noxious vapors, and act
in many ways beneicially to human
health.
A remarkable illustration of the fact
that the clearing of billy countries is
likely to result / n the complete failing of
springs Is given by Mr.. Ney, who states
that in Provence, France, after all the
olive forests, which had been frozen,
were cut down, q great number of springs
failed totally. In the city of Orleans,
after tho surrounding heights had been
thus cleared, nearly all the wells dried
up, and 1t became necessary to go to the
headwaters of the river Little Loire for o
water supply.
The state of New York is fortunate in
still owning the most of the Adirondack
region, covered with the primitive for
ests. 1t has also q forest preserve of
over 40, 900 acres in the Catshn region
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.