The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-05

The extreme difficulty of reducing these
actors to known quantities, or even t.
-ough estimates, has mode it impossible
20 present any array of figures as a
result of the costly and painstaking
work F.; but a wider knowledge of what
has been done would lead to a greater
general interest in the fascinating sub
jeCt of forestry.
If the results of the scientific inves
legations are unsatisfactory vague,
there is no uncertainty in the observa-
tons as to the apparent relation of
forest and rainfall, without attempting
to assign scientific reasons for this
apparent relation. Thus, the heaviest
known rainfall occurs in the dense and
extensive forest Of the middle and lower
Brahmaputra, in Indie. In the south
OF Java are large and dense forests; IN
the north are few wooded tracts The
annual rainfall at Tjilatjap, on the south
coast, is 1923 inches; at these stations
on the north coast it is 49, inches.
The questions are raised whether in
these instances the forests were not
fostered by the rain and WHITTIER the
absence of forests is not result Of the
failure of rain. But here is an instance
that apparently does not admit Of such
questions. There is in central India
large territory in which special attention
has been given for several years to the
protection and encouragement # forest
growth, so that, from being almost tree
less, it has become covered with dense
growth Of trees Over this territory the
average increase of rainfall 10 nine
years was IS per cent, according to
measurements that are described as
accurate.
Our own country furnishes several
examples which are mentioned as
coming from good authorities and
well substantiated. About the year
ITS the Savannah River at Augusta
was "a clear, rapid stream, full of ex-
cellent fish, and subject to no sudden
or marked changes Of height"
The forests were destroyed in the
course of years, and now "the stream
has become turbid, the fish have near
Fly deserted the lower waters, and sud-
den and marked changes of the water
level are the rule" We have we'll
known instances Of the cutting off OF
forests in the northern parts Of New
York State being followed by failure
Of the canal feeders. OF the gradual
diminution of the flow Of the SChuyl-
kill River in dry seasons, a commission
of engineers said in 1875; "Thls re-
narkable decrease, not accompanil d
by any great cha &c in the rainfall, nor
probably in che total annual discharge
of the river, is no doubt largely due to
The destruction of the forest in
the drainage area, whereby the
cons rvative action of the woodland
has been lost, and the rainfall is per
United to descend rapidly to the bed
land pass off in a succession of freshets.
Similar stories are told Of the failure
in constancy of streams big and little,
| by New Hampshire Forestry Com
mission, by an Ohio State Forestry
| Bureau, and by considerable number
: Of unofficial observers from Maine to
, California. Most of these examples
however, are in veriication Of the un
disputed value of forests as conseva
! tors Of water supply, and do not beal
on the question whether forests increase
t the rainfall. In most instances where
! observers tell cf dwindling streams
= they speak also Of ireShets sweeping
thr, ugh the beds of the Sc str, ans, 81
that perhaps the annual outrHn is nearly
5 If not quite, as great as II was when the
forests were there, and the volume O
! the streams WIS more nearly Constant
| One Of the conclusions set forth il
, the bulletin from which this summar,
! is gathered is expressed in these words
r GAS regulator of water conditions
! the forest of the mountains is the i'm
I portant factor; and since this influence
y makes itse felt far distant from tn
T. location of the forest, the claim 70
! attention of Government activity anC
t for statesmanlike policy with reference
t to this factor of national welfare, MAY
I be considered as well founded Every
{ Clvl lied Gov, rnment must in time owl
a or control the forest cover of thu
5 mountains in order to secure desirabl,
water conditions"