The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-03-23
FORESTY And FINANCE.
The Value of Our Forests and
the Importance OF Their
Protection.

A Change Demanded in Our Mon
etary System.-New Name
-. FOR Big Stone Gap
Suggested.
For the Big Stone Gap Pours ny J. ArsrIS ernHsr.
In the early part of the present
century Unpopular belief was that
our forests were inexhaustable. In
deed that idea is too prevalent tt
this day.
The early settler regarded the forest
as his natural antagonist. He fought
it with axe and fire to win from IT
land for agricultural purposes. In
this contest great was the destruct-
ion of noble trees which it had re-
ouired centuries to mature.
When manufactures spranS up to
supply the wants of prosperous agrl'
culture, and wood was needed for In
Vulnerable purposes, the onslaught
ON the forests was redoubled. Even
the rugged hills, unfit for agriculture,
were unroofcd, destroying the car
pcting of nature which had caught
and held the rainfall till it pcrcolated
through the soil and dubbed from
their rocky sides in crystal springs,
which ran down and irrigated the
fruitful valleys.
In place OF this beni6cent arrange
ment, the bounty Of the heavens now
burrows the barred hillsidcs and
rushcs in devastating foods through
the valleys, leaving the earth athirst
and barren.
For many years civilization and
progress have varied with virgin for
ests with these results:
AS the eastern and northern states
became de-forested their rich aSrl-
cultural lands became sterile, the
tillcrs of the soil emmigrated and the
manufacturing population which sue
ceeded them now imports both food
and lumber.
In the middle states the same pro-
cess is impalpably but steadily going
on. In Maryland the best timber
has everywhere been culled, and her
industries are suffering from the de-
terioration and extinction of local
supplies.
In West Virginia the forests have
been removed from the counties Dor
derinc on the Ohio river, and mills
and manufacturing establishments
are languishing or suspended from
exhaustion of material that was sup
posed illimctable. AS yet but slight
inroads have been made upon the
MAGNIFICENT body of the hard woods
in the extreme southwestern counties
of the state.
The mountain region Of Southwest
Virginia contains immense quantities
of original oak, hickory, walnut,
cherry, and other harclwoods. The
streams arc unsuited to carry the
timber to market, but, of late years,
railroads have penetrated this region
and the inroads made upon the tim
Der supply justify the most serious
apprehensions.
An admirable treatise written by
Prof Fernow, Chief of the Forestry
Division of the U. S. Agricultural
Department, is replete with facts in
regard 10 our forest resources and
their proper management, which
may be read with profit and interest;
In Bulletin No. 5 of the Agricul-
tural Department, entitled "What is
Forestry" Prof. Fernow says Of the
value of the forest product in the
United States:
"Thc total annual product of wood ma
terial of all sorts consumed in the United
States may he valued in round numbers
at 81 ,OOO, 600, 0O0 representing, roughly
speking, $4,000, OOu,OO0 cubic feet of wood
or tbc annual increase Of the wood growth
Of 50 OO0, 600 acres forest in fair condition.
This value exceeds ten times the value OF
our gold and silver output, and three
tines the annual product Of all our mineral
and coal mines put together. 1t is three
times the value of our wheat crop; and
with nil the toll and risk which our agri-
cultural crops involved they can barely
ouadruple the value Of this product yield
ed by nature for the mere harvesting.
"If to the value Of our total mining pro-
duct be added the value of stone quarres
and petroleum, and this sum he Increased