Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-01-03
ABOUT FORESTRY,
ITS PROGRESS IN A TREELEss STATE
OF THE WEST.

What Nebraska Has Done-Iproadsf ,T,de
'"e Lumber Men-The Annual Rain
Ial-Forestry in the State of New York.
Objects.
IN writing ON forestry Gen. James s.
Drlsoln' Y. 5. A, not only presents the
general features of his theme. but de-
scflbes the peculiarities and uses of each
American tree. While s, O00, 600 trees are
cut IN this country every wear only I 600
OOO are planted. To reproduce the for
ests that have been cut away would take
forty generations. Of course no one de-
slreS to turn the country into a wilder
ness again, but there is a danger line in
forest destruction that has already been
passed II many localities in America as
IN whole regions, now the scene of desc
Iatlon, in Europe.
When Gen. Brisbin turned forester +be
SUBJECT had made no public impression.
re" journals could be induced to give
u!n hearing. One of the first to aid
MN with his pen was William Cullen
bryant. The progress that has been
made IS not insignificant. Nebraska.
once called the treeless state, is covered
WIN young forests, and will soon be as
well tlmbered as an eastern state. For
several years past from 5000. OCO to
@oOOU,0O0 trees have been set annually
IN That state. its arbor day is an annual
Monday. The governor of Nebraska offers
a large reward each year to the family
mat Will set out the greatest number of
forest trees. when | was there" the
general writes, lit was $500 for the first
premium, $500 for the second, and SO on
down to So. Even the women and chill
Gfen could earn premiums, medals and
diplomas, and great was the competition
lor these rewards of the state. Patches
OF Ilmoef have sprung up everywhere.
ana where few years ago only the naked
pam was seen, now waves a goOdly for.
est. Trees 10 and - years old are 30
IeeU nigh and to 10 inches in diameter
IofeSt trees well cared for grow with
great rapiditT 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 i'll Nebraska. He has no
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 western state runs 200 saws. In
Wisconsin lumber amounting in quantity
to 1880, 600, 600 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
Nlnconsin. 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 wears
ago was q garden, is now almost a desert
in cOnsequenceof 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 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
hard rain Is Il 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 foresters in its employ,
located in the eleven northern counties.
Trespassers have been compelled to re-
llnburSe the state on account of timber
taken. Timber thieving and the spolia-
ton 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 tie 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
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 hat it is most dangerous pol
icy to strip the country of its trees.
Fifth-For the climatic and sanitary
influence OF forests. There can be little
doubt that forests are great equalizers of
temperate re, render the surrounding
country less liable to violent winds, alb
sorb malarial and noXious vapOrs, and act
in many ways benefcially to human
health.
A remarkable illustration of the fact
that the clearing of hilly countries is
likely to result in 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, Il great number of springs
failed totally. In the city OF Orleans,
after the surrounding heights had been
thus cleared, nearly all the wells dried
up, and it became necessary to go to the
headwaters Of the river Little Loire for
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 forest preserve Of
over &c, coo acres in the Catskill region
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.