The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-12-17
STgT PIsTtEIy Association Work
Inc 70 That End.
DR.. MASWELL'S INVESTIGATIONS
c--seouences Of Destruction of
Forest-Efect on Storing
Water


ze=uslr considering the menace TO the
ua-e- supply. especially on the other
islands resulting from the decreasing
Fo-s Az the annual meeting Of the
association ,he Forestry Committee, Of
uh5sh W. H. Gifard is chairman, pre-
ted e report on the subject in which
zzs Included The following letter writ
-e- b. ur. Maxwell 10 President Dole:
hon SANFORD B. DOLE. President
% -he Republic OF Hawaii
--In compliance with the re-
rae- made personally by you previous
- ny Iast visit 10 the district Of Ha-
van. that should record any observa-
rsous made IN The course OF travel upon
-le present state Of the forests, and
upuu recent changes in forest areas,
and t1e apparent economic oonsequ-
sures o. those changes. / beg 10 submit
-r yea the following memoranda:
II is not necessary to preface the
ohss-ra-ions with general remarks up
on Ire relations OF forest, rainfall and
-he economic value OF lands. since
-hssa relations have been so amply set
Fo--h iv the results Of exact studies
mace in other countries. and are gen
g-zIv understood.
The mode. however. in which forest
surfaces operate in taking moisture
from the air passing over them is not
81 generally vel known; and it is in
place to explain thar while forest and
0-he- attitudes do affect. and possibly
draw atmospheric currents that bear
moisture the main value Of the forest
Is In presenting a cool surface to the
moisture laden air passing over, and
thus causing the cooled air TO give up a
uarr % its moisture as rain. By way Of
illustration I nay add that made
sane readings OF The temperature Of
the air. the surface soil to a depth of
SIX inches. and OF the inside of the
trunks o. trees about nine inches in
diameter and four feet from the
ground. when I was in the Hamakua
district The air temperature was So
deE7ees- the soil 81 degrees. and the
temperature of The trees 70 degrees.
The temperature OF trees. however, de-
pelds upon their size or mass. and the
smaller the TREE or bush the nearer its
temperature comes to that Of the air.
ms example Is given in order to
guard us against the idea that any
Teee-zble covering with small trees,
aush. or scrub, win induce greater
precipitation. and 70 explain that.
Ehlst The bush and ground growths
conserve me moisture by preventing a
zsFid discharge TO the sea, it is forest,
composed q trees o. great height and
bar which mainly affects the fall Of
rain
in The District Of Hilo it is not fully
evident thar an acuaI decrease in the
rainfall is transpiring. but there are
ample Indications that the water is not
conserved as vel as formerly. but
washes more directly TO the ocean; and
-his change threatens to affect the
plantations. which depend for The fun
tlE of cane upon the steady and uni
form fow o. The upper water to the
SEA However. the signal relation of
EIio to the other districts OF the island
make il a matter Of The greatest mo-
meat thai the conditions Of rainfall in
the upper HIlo district shall not be
-h7eatened, since II the rains in that
district should be affected. the rains
from The HIo region moving towards
Hamaiua might be reduced TO moth
tnc
moved 10 Kohala from the Hama
kua district over the waimea plains.
and mad opportunity to note the furth-
r. depletion OF remnant areas Of the
original forest
IN Kohala district the abnormal
drought o. this year has so intensified
ne consequences Of the gradual fall
ing OF in ne rainfall that appears to
have been going on for some time. that
11-e is required in order to avoid an
extreme new Of the situation. I have.
however. observed, and have been in
formed ~ the best authority. that the
forest line upon the slopes declining to
kohzla town has been moved back sew
e-l miles. and within & period not ex-
seeding 10 years This destruction Of
he front line Of the forest where nav
r. seen disnsutled trees rotting on the
ground and DYING bush, has been main
" caused hy mountain cattle. which
we've allowed 70 range down to the
plantation lines Today the lower
kinds a-e- from want of water. becom-
ilE useless for grazing. and the best
pastures are upon the higher areas
Ehich few years ago were so dense