Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-09-20
OBSTRUCTION OF FORESTS.


Tad Effects of This Vandalism the
Climate OF the Country.
Floods. cyclones, aud droughtS belong
to jhe same family.
The axe is father of them all Human
stupidity is their mother. Nature is no
more to blame for them than is the blind
earth which the digger undermnes till
it falls ON him.
=. he axe kills trees. With the trees
killed the sno VS. of winter m 1T more
Quickly unde, the rain and snow Of early
S ring VITA the trees killed, swamps,
fallen logs, and leaves that once held
back the waters for months no longer
act. The waters rush to their natural
outlets wthol 1t opposition. The rapid
transit of the waters clogs the great nat
ural channels, and they overflow into
new ones. carrying devastation where er
they rush. The more the axe Is used
the higher rise the waters. Bad goes on
to worse. The end no human wit can
foretell.
The destruction of the forests has
eliminated the principal factor in mod
flying the IN ,vement Of the air currents,
according t. the Cleveland Press l. Ike
the trade winds on the ocean, the air
currents over sections lenud2d of fore, S
flow fir ely and perSistentlv for long
periods without change. AS change is
necessary in the move mems of the air
in order to have change in the rainfall,
ii follows that per'i'trncy in air cur
rents eau ed by forest destruction means
long spells" of dryne at one period
and long spells" of wet at an pther.
ThI's floods are sometimes aggravated
a, much by unusual wet "sprlIs as by
the rapi transit of the waters to their
natural channels in consequence of con-
ditions Just mentioned. When both
causes conioi terrible floods are newt
able. Destructive droughts must follow
excessive rainfails, for the average rain
fall varies but little from year to year in
a given locality. An excess at one time
means a scarcity at another.
So, too, cyclones, like simoons, are
only possible where enormous areas of
country lnbrolen by forests exist The
winds gather force as they go, or rather
freedom to move SLY, which means
that they will go quicker than if OBJ
structed. A point of refraction means
that the surrounding atmosphere will
rush in to restore equilibrium. If there
is nothing to oppose the oncomng air it
will move rapidly. The forest is the
greatest of modifiers to wind storms,
holding them back and checking them,
and, doing so, tend to modify sudden
and rapid cases of rarefactiOn.
The flood, drou ght, and cyclone adj
monish the people of the United States
to be wise. If they heed not the admoni-
ton they must pay the penalty. the
spectacle presented in the valleys of the
Mississippi and its tributaries and along
the track of the cyclone that devastated
Louisville should be enough to cause
some serious thinking. These spectacles
can be excelied. Give the axe time and
bride it to do its uttermoSt and horrors
now seen will be mercieS compared with
horrors that will inevitably follow.
Settling the Bill Made Difference.
Slowgo-Well, doctor, how did you
find my wife? Is her condition serious
Doctor am afraid can do nothing
for her.
"Merciful heaven. Must lose herr"
"EXcuse me; l was about to say l can
do nothing for her until you settle my
last bill. "-[ America.