Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-01-09
ABOUT FORESTRY.
ITS PROGRESS ma TREELEss STATE
OF THE WEST.

Dy the Lumber Men--The Annual Rain
faii-Forestry in the state of New York
Objects.
In writing on forestry Gen. James s.
Brisbin, U. $. A, not only presents the
general features of his theme bpt do
scribes the peculiarities and uses of each
American tree. While 5000, 900 trees are
cut cut IN this country every year only 600.
ooO are planted To reproduce the for.
ests That nave been cut away would take
iorty generations. OF course no one de.
sireS TO turn the country into a wilder
ness again, but there is danger line in
FOREST destruction that has already been
passed N 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.
rev journals could be induced to give
him hearing. One of the first to aid
nm with his pen was William Cullen
bryant: The progress that has been
hiade IS not insignificant. Nebraska,
once called the treeless state, is covered
WIN young forests, and will soon be as
wen unDercd as an eastern state. For
several years past from 1000, 600 to
2O,OO0,OUO trees have been set annually
IN mat 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, sit was $500 for the first
premium, $500 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.
and where few years ago only the naked
plain was seen, now waves a goodly for
est. Trees 10 and 10 years old are 80
feet high and to 10 inches in diameter
Forest trees well cared for grow with
great rapidly 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 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 q western state runs 200 saws In
Wisconsin lumber amounting in quantity
to l,O30, QUO, 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 900 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 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
improvements as the result OF single
hard rain is 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 fre'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-
imburse 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 tic value of forests as
anitariums-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 mon are not yet ready
to assert that forests increase the rain
fall, but the theory has many supporter;
and the belief is fast growing that forests
are such an important factor in supplying
moisture that it is a most dangerous pol
icy to strip the country of its trees.
Fifth-For the climatic and sanitary
influence of forests. There can be littl(
doubt that forests are great equalizers OF
temperature, render the surrounding
country less liable to violent winds, alb
sorb malarial and noXious vapors, and &C
in many ways benehcially to humal
health
A remarkable illustration of the fac
that the clearing of hilly countries i
likely to result in the complete failing o
springs is given by Mr.. Ney, who state
that in Provence. France, after all tn
olive forests, which had been frozen
were cut down. great number OF spring
failed totally. In the city OF Orleans
after the surrounding heights had beef
thus cleared, nearly all the wells drie'
up. and it became necessary to 60 to tn
headwaters of the river Little Loire for
water supply, g.
Tho state of New York is fortunate i
still owning the most of the Adirondac
region. covered with the primitive fol
ests. 1t has also Il forest preserve Q
over &C, coo acres in the Catsllill region
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Making the Round Trip.
oIx-tsnf m