The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-08

- 8-t4 49,
biy illustrates the necessity for close and
systematic planting. At present only a few
rar1eues VIII be mentioned. For general
as ordinarily grown singly, choked by sod.
IL Is a crooked, valueless tree, but when
planted thickly, the soil kept mellow by
cultivation. or a heavy mulch, it makes a
straight, upright trunk. sixty feet or more
In height 1t is, in all probability. the most
durable wood grown in Indiana; a post
which / sent to the New Orleans exposition
mad a history of seventy-ive years in an
Indiana fence, and was still in good condi-
ton. The uses are, telegraph poles, ties.
posts and finishing lumber, having a fine
grain and taking a good polish; il would
nave a high commercial value were there an
four trees may be grown on an acre, having
a value at twenty years of $50. Black or
yellow locust is of special value, growing
quickly from seed or suckers, succeeding on
rough or otherwise inferior lands; renewing
itself from the stump as trees are removed.
recurring no cultivation after the first two
years.; permitting the growth of blue grass
and use OF the land for pasture: taking
nothing from the surface soil yet enriching
IL continually. and supplying what every
used for wagon hubs, ships tackle, blocks
FOR street pavements, and many uses where
a hard, durable, hne-grained wood is de-
manded. Wild cherry is no longer used in
the arts for the reason that the supply is
exhausted; 1t would be a profitable tree TO
with which all are familiar. 1t has been esti-
mated by eminent authorities that the
profits from european larch. in fifty years.
would be $500 per acre. after deducting
taxes, interest and all expenses.
SHOULD HI STATE ASSIST?
As tie national government has conveyed
the title to almost it's entire area of forest
lands, and all in our State, to its several
citizens. 1t is now beyond the power of Con-
gress to aid in any material way the pres
ervation of forests which yet remain. 1t
devolves upon the State Legislature to en-
courage individual land owners to preserve
the remaining native trees and renew them
by judicious planting. Governments grant
bounties for such crops as have special eco
nomic values. Germany and France foster
the sugar beet industry, while America as
annual crops are aided the State should be
as liberal in the encouragement of an in
dustry which requires many years to be-
lumber has steadily advanced values and
ere many years il will have become ex-
hausted; wagon woods are obtained with
great dtfhculty; walnut, from which fence
rails and elegant furniture were wont to be
made, how brings fabulous prices; farmers
and manufacturers have been compelled to
adapt steel and iron tn the uses of wood.
IL we would leave posterity a timber supply
the assistance of the State must be
forests encouraged. Land is taxed
much higher than other property. and
farm owners cannot keep up taxes and in
OD WOOul1UQS WHICH require > y Ikdfl
years to bring an income, unless the State
renders assistance. There are several mil
lion acres OF land in Indiana which would
be more profitable employed I'm the growth
OF forests than continued in annual farm
crops; many tracts have been exhausted by
injudicious cultivation, and are no longer
remunerative; hillsides are bare of soil. il
having been washed toward the gulf; some
forms OF timber growth would succeed on
all these tracts, and in time become q
source OF revenue to the owners and the
State.
If farm lands can be enhanced in value
by a renewal OF forests the valuation for
taxation would be advanced, and in pro-
portion as the area of valuable forests is
increased, so manufactures of wood are ex-
tended, capital occupied. labor employed
sources. 1t has been demonstrated that the
clearing away OF forests has, the world
over, resulted in a diminished rainfall,
tions and by promoting the increase Of nat
ural forests, has in many cases caused a
greatly increased precipitation.
BENEFITS OF FORESTS.
Forests retard the flow Of water, thus
equalizing the size Of streams and regular
ity of springs; the spongy mass Of leaves.
branches, roots and moss, with deep accu-
mutation of soil, holding back the water as
rains fall and snow melts, slowly feeds both
springs and streams, while the impermeate
clay and rocks of cleared lands, from which
all SOIL has DeeH NdSnSu, permits lie
waters to run rapidly away, hence streams
quickly overflow, and as rapidly become
dry. The Ohio river now varies from a
depth of two feet to that of eighty-seven.
Masses Of timber modify the wind, break
their force, guide the air currents higher
from the surface and so ameiiorate the
climate; sudden changes In temperature
through great extremes are less usual in
timbered regions than in treeless lands;
evaporation. very rapid where strong winds
800 -.>. L. GtrHfn "a me
the soil to dry and bake, is greatly les
sened where dense wood growths cover the
land. Look at the beautiful cedars OF Leb-
anon, which Hiram the King OF Tyre sent
to King Solomon with which to build the
temple and other edifices. The entire re-
gion of Lebanon was a forest, in all prob
ability equal to the grand forests of our
Pacific coast. Where are they now? 1t
was far easier to hew these cedars, slide
them down the slopes TO the Mediterranean,
ten or fifteen miles, float them to Joppa,
and draw them to Jerusalem. thirty miles.
than to quarry stone and prepare that for
building. The Bible mentions only a few
us any that can skill to hew timber like
unto the Sidonians," showing this to have
been a recognized occupation about Sidon.
as it now is in our great forests. That the
city of Jerusalem and other cities of the
time were principally constructed or wood
from Lebanon there can be little doubt.
and who will deny that the cutting OF those
forests had the same effect as is going on
i'm Indiana to-day? Drying up the sources
OF water supply, decreasing precipitation,
totally changing the. climatic conditions so
that the forests could not reproduce them
selves. and Syria is to-day a w-aste-stone
must be used for building. while wood is
worth its weight in gold; the brooks of Pal
estine being dry the greater part of the
year.
At the progress which we have been maxi
ing il will require but half a century for
most of our valued woods TO become ex-
tinct. save as a few specimens along with
the buffaloes are preserved in the public
marks. Is IL not Of Importance to the State
that proper efforts be made for the pres