The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-21

which Il applied to constructive purposes, IL
constantly Increasing. the demand for timber
seems In no wise 10 diminish. For all the fore
seeable future OF mankind, the timber trees
must be looked to - sources Of supply for many
OF the most important arts To meet the de-
mand for construction woods, which gen
orally require half century. or more
for their growth, and, at the same time. 10 Sc
cure n suIicient area for filling. presents one Of
the most difficult and perplexing questions
which civilization encounters. In all countries
this is q serious problem, but in North America,
the question IL Of more critical nature than in
any other Of the great continental areas IL is
true that North America contains some Of the
noblest forests In tho world, and Ia remarkably
we'll supplied with species Of trees valuable for
constructive purposes; nevertheless, IL has
larger area Of fertile lands unprovided with tim
Der than has any Of the other contipents, except
Asia Owing 10 the prevailingly arid nature Of
the climate over large part Of the Mississippi
Valley, as we'll a. of the Cordilleran district,
and TO the dryness Of the summer throughout
almost all the inhabitable parts Of the country.
forest fires often spread with great rspidity and
devastate great tracts of wood. The annual loss
from this cause Ia computed by Prof. Shaler at
not less than 5000, 900 acres OF timber. More
over, In many parts Of the country, particularly
those regions In which tho rainfall lie small or
moderate in quantity, the primeval woods. when
burned away, cannot be restored the land re-
naming either unoccupied by trees or covered
By stunted growth Of species which have no
utility except for frewood.
Although, owing TO the great area of its oasln
and the considerable rainfall which occurs
within II, the Ohio Ia the river which thus far
has most suffered from the destruction of the
Appalachian forest, all the streams which have
their sources in this great wood must eventu-
ally experience the same kind Of injury. Unless
proper precautions are taken. tho Hudson, the
Delaware. the Susquehanna, the James, tho
Savannah, the Alabama, and q number Of other
less important rivers will, like the Ohio, be-
como the beds Of furious torrents during the
time Of heavy rains, while they will be un-
navigable for lack OF water IN the dry
season. To Prof. Shaler IL seems mani
fest that the preservation of the Appala-
chan forests, or of such parts of the
area as IL is imperatively necessary to
maintain. can only be brought about by the In
terposition OF the Tederal Government. The
problem being one which concerns at least a
dozen States of the Union. It seems futile TO ex-
pectthe separate commemorative to deal with II.
Any effective action must come. he thinks, from
the Federal Government. Fortunately for the
end In view the central authorities have already
entered on the plan of maintaining great reserva-
tions. such as the National Park Of the yell
lowstone Valley, and that which contains the
big trees in California. 1t Is true that
these areas were originally Federal do
mains which have been merely withdrawn
from sale: but Prof. Shaler thinks II would
be only a slight extension OF the principle to
have the lands now privately owned, but which
may DO required for the public safety. con-
Lemned and withdrawn from private owner
ship. In his judgment, at least twenty thousand