The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-15
A PLEA FOR TREES
continued from Second Page.

portadon. and when II Is brought into
competition with railroads, another
great gain Is had. t4
So far have only spoken OF the i'm
portancc OF such streams to the con-
summing classes in distinction to the pro-
duclng portion OF the population. A.
portion OF the argument has a bearing
upon both classes. but there Is another
view which is OF special interest to the
agrlculturist. The stream furnishes
him water, the forests store up the in
termittent precipitation OF the season
and by a generous and wise provision,
nil Its own, deals II out in the .continu-
Gus flow OF our streams; making a
more equitable climate, and giving
those conditions OF earth and air which
go to make up climate best suited to
maintain q prosperous and long lived
people. tT
What was said OF the drying UP OF the
streams Of New York. Massachusetts
and other eastern and middle states has
not only led TO the closing OF the factor
les. but has been the prime cause OF the
abandoned farms OF Vermont and New
Hampshire.
The east Is not alone concerned In this
ruefuf and destructive action upon the
natural water reserve; the south and
west are CO. partners.
In q smaller way and to q less extent
the natural prairie covering acts like
the forest in keeping Gp the flow OF
streams. and in maintaining lakes and
other natural reservoirs as slews and
swamps.
Since the extensive breaking up and
cultivation OF these vast plains took
place many streams that were constant
have become Intermittent. Streams
like the upper Missouri, that were navi-
gable, have become clogged with mud
and silt and are no longer profitable
highways, Lakes. which but few
years ago were OF thousands OF acres In
extent upon the Dakota prairie. are to-
day meadows. pasture lands, or wheat
fields. A case In point. A lake In Da-
tish was 30 dry that portion OF Its bed
was used for fax last fall (ls95).
Another side OF the Problem.
Within the last thirty years through
the amellorating influences OF the
planting Of trees to the eastward, tree
culture has been pushed fifty miles far
Their west in Nebraska than Il was pos
pible to grow trees prior to that time.
l an glad TO say that right here at
our own door We have q practical ex-
ample In the wise policy OF those inter-
ested In the water supply for our town.
They have under their control q large
area OF woodland for the purpose OF
maintaining and perpetualing the flow
OF the streams taking their rise within
its limits. But Individual and isolated
effort will not suffice. They are not
sufficient because they are not far
reaching enough. although good as far
as they SO: but 1t is only through CO.
operation OF corporations. or through
government control thnt the beneficial
results sought can be brought about.
Il Is thought government prudence and
fostering care that the national park
or reserve policy has been and Is being
extended 80 generally through the
mountain regions of the west. The
western people are alive, and It Is there
alone that government corporation
has been secured. Are not the nttviga-
Bile streams OF the east OF as much i'm
portance TO our fostering mother rs the
irrigation streams OF the west? Should
not the people of this region be as ur-
gent in their demands rs those of tho
west, and should they not be Us quick
~ and readily heard? Other countries
have become awakened to the import
ance OF this need only after their I'M
wise and greedy policy had brought
them face to face with the gravest
problems OF water supply, OF drouth.
and OF torrents. Must we, the wlsest.
the most civilized nation on earth, as
the Fourth Of July orators tell us, go
through the same ordeal before we find
out where the road we are travelling win
lead ua7