The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-13
TREES FLOURISH n RAIN.
Phases Of Timber Growth In the
United States.


fhsexxn TtEufe--72Ez-
s,r viewing the various climatic To-
e.,itses ard REGIONS II oar globe !. sp-
pears that q fair 70 . iuxuTiant tlrat'er
growth requires from moderate y, q
xoo.f fertile soaI. stsh . sensf*Fas
70 . tropical climate, accompanied os
. moderately large rainfall. ana Aiso
accompanied. in some iocaii,Ies. oy
sauntiful snoxfali during a part oil
the yesr-fair 10 good soil. warmth
ard an abundance Of moisture neang
the essentials. Consequently. cosin-
tries havisg but little To no rain or
snowfall. produce little or no 'IniIsf-
Washington territory, British Colam-
Ola and Southern Alaska, all ruled IN
climate by the influence Of the Pseifie
ocear.. are the homes of the aounoans
and large growths Of the tir and cedar
The west slope OF the California
Coast range OF mountains "a iow range
compared with the Sierra Seysdas and
Cascade ranger, Is Hso the home oil
the mammoth growth OF the redwood
The West India islands. parts OF
Guatemala. New Zesiand. parts OF
southern central Africa, Norway,
Sweden and the British islands, were.
and are the home o. large umoer
growth. All Of which countries are
noted for their rainfall, while the
western mountain slope OF the long
high Andes. the sahara and Arabian
deserts. have little TO 10 rainfall and
less timber growth. New England
and the entire eastern slope OF the
Alleghany mountains was Bne tius-
Der country. and from its first settle
nsent its usual rainfall has been fair 10
large.
The lower clouds give up largely OF
their abundant moisture on flowing
east from the Pacific ocean. on stink
ing the west slope of the California
Coast range OF mountains, the home
OF the redwood. The dry cir, relieved
OF its moisture, then continues east
on it, course, passing into and over
the Sacramento and the great San
Joaquin wheat producing valleys OF
California. leaving but little rainfall.
Here irrigation l. required. ami these
valleys were nearly treeless on their
iirst settlement by Europeans. But
the higher Pacific ocean clouds, sur
feited with moisture, passing east high
over the tops of the Coast range, on
striking the much more elevated
Sierra Nevada aud Cascade range
on it's western declivity, from
one quarter 10 two thirds or
its height in altitude, occasion
much rain and snowfall. Right here,
on a long north an south belt extend
| ing nearly the whole length of Cali
fornia and Oregon. some six 10 seven
hundred miles, We find a large, lux
uriant growth of FIR and valuable
sugar pine" accompanied by the
neighborhood Of the big trees OF
Calayeras The Pacific ocean air be
ing strained of its moisture by passing,
against and over the wide high Sierra
Nevada range, continues on Its course
east, passing over the almost treetess
and rainless Eastern Nevada, Utah.
Colorado and the western parts OF our
prairie states. and Arizona, New Mex
leo and the western parts of Texas and
Indian Territory, as a whole, are near
| ly Tainiess and treeless.
The same rule follows the country
surrounding the great lakes, there be-
| Ing much rain and snowfall. snd. as a
| consequence, a tine timbered country.
The northern part of the lower PENN
sula OF Michigan. and especially the
| higher altitude of the same, are strik-
| ing illustrations u the rule This
part Of the lower peninsula, beisg
| nearly surrounded by lakes Huron
and Michigan and their constanteyap-
orations. and its interior altitude be-
/ ing from 600 to 1870 feet above the
surface of the surrounding lakes,
which. causing It's climate to be mild,
makes IT peculiarly subject 10 great
amount of rain and snowfall, which
has produced timber growth OF
white pine and hardwoods not ex-
eelled in other part of the globe. And
especially the sugar maple, Eastwood
elm. black birch and cork pine, which
| is still now largely standing in its ma
lestic immensely and undlsturbed
silent native simplicity.