The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-17
GREATEST FOREST IN THE WORLD


1t Is I'm Sfberla-A Vast Area OF fine,
Larch and Cedar
Lumber Trade Journal.
Where Is the greatest forest IN The
world go
The question was asked IN the Forestry
section OF the American Association for
the Advancement o. Science. al is recene
annual meeting. The tznportance or for
esss for esGaiixing the climate and the
rainfall OF the globe was under discus
sion, and The purpose OF the QUESTION was
70 show where the great 1oFNeSs tracts or
the world are situtaed.
one member, replying or-haad, was IN
cIsnad TO maintain that che greatest con-
rinuous tract of forest lies north or the
st. L-awrencs river. in the PROVINCES OF
Quebec and Ontario. extending north
ward 10 Euison's hay and labrador; -
region measuring about LIE miles IN
length from east 20 west, AID l.1o miles
IN width north and south.
A professor from the Smithsonian In
stiturion rejoined that mueh larger con-
rinuous area OF timber lands was TO be
found. reckoning from those IN the state
OF Washington. northward through Brit
ish Columbia and Alaska But he limited
hts statement 20 North America, for he
added thar. in his opinion. the largest
forest in the world occupied the valley
of the Amazon, embracing much OF north
ern Brazil. eastern Peru. Bolivia, Ecua-
dor. Columbia and Guiana: q region at
least sIo0 miles in length by l.Soc in
breadth.
Exception was Immediately taken TO
this statement by several members who.
in the light OF recent explorations, have
computed the forest area OF Central At
riea in the valley OF the Congo. including
the headwaters OF the Nile TO the north
east and those of Zaulbesi on the south.
According TO their estimates Central
America contains a forest region not less
than s.eo miles in length from north 10
south. and of vast, although not fully
known. width from east TO west Dis
cllssioa. In which the evidence afforded
by travels and surveys was freely cited,
seemed favorable 20 the defender OF the
Amazonlan forests.
Later Ia the day the entire question
was placed in another light by member
who was so fortunate as TO be able 10
speak from some knowledge or stiii
another great forest region Of the globe.
This gentleman gave a vivid picture OF
the vast, solemn taigas and urmans. the
pine, larch and cedar forests OF Siberia
IL appears that Siberia, from the plain
of the Obi river on the west 10 the valley
OF the Indighirka on the east embracing
the great plains. or river valleys or the
Yenisei olenek, Lena and Yana rivers, IL
one great timber belt. averaging more
than i.Ws niles III bTedutu hoi vi ~
south-beiag fully 100 miles wide in tpe
Yenisei district and having a length
from cas- 10 west OF not less than s.oye
yersts. about 5000 miles. Unlike equato-
rial forests, the trees OF the SIBERIAN
tafgas are mainly conifers, comprising
pines of several varieties. frs and larches-
In the Yenisei, Lena and Olenek regions
there are thousands of square miles where
no human being has ever been. The long
height
feet CT more and stand so close together
that walking among them is difficult
The dense lofty tops exclude the pale
Arctic sunshine. and the straight. pale
trunks, all looking exactly alike, so be-
wilder the eye In the obscurity that all
sense of direction Is lost. Even the most
experienced trappers of sable dare not
veotura into the dense taigas without TAX.
ing the precaution of blazing" the trees
constantly with hatchets as they walk
forward If lost there the hunter rarely
finds his way out but perishes miseraniy
from starvation or cold. The natives avoid
the taigas. and have name for them
which signifies places where the mind Is
lost"
The discussion was closed very appro-
priately by Prof Fernow. of Washington
CITY. with IAN illustrated lecture, which
showed how, In the earlier ages. forests
had covered all the continental areas, ana
had rendered the climate equable TO de-
gree now unknown.
At fest human beings battled with the
forest in a fitful manner. making small
cIearings for themselves; but gradually,
by the aid of firaand OF their own increas-
ing numbers tNey have so far prevailed
In the struggle for supremacy that the
forests are hopelessly conquered. But
grave evils follow their determination;
and now the question Is, how TO foster
protect and preserve them