The record-union., 1898-02-27
CHANGING VIEWS OF FOREST
VALUES.

Whatever the truth, that the world
wants. Civilization has been and is
strong in the belief that excessive de-
forestation is non-benefcial to the ex-
tent of proving a positive climatic dan
ger. That to strip the TANKS of the hills
means TO hasten waters to the valley, to
prevent growth of heritage by depriving
the soil Of shelter, to make long droughts
and great floods, to increase the tenn
perature in summer and greatly lower
ii IN winter. These facts have been
taught as truths in the great forestry
schools of Europe, and accepted as axio-
matte.
In 1877 Franklin Hough after years OF
study of the subject in this country and
in Europe under direction of Congress,
submitted a report to the Government
that has become forestry classic. In
that invaluable work he compressed
ahout all the testimony on the subject
TO be had to that date, and made out
what we have always deemed an i'm
pregnabie case. The Record Union
twenty years ago considered the matter
in the light of all testimony then posi-
bic TO be had and studied local condi-
lions very carefully. Its convictions CO.
dncided with those of Mr.. Hough The
State of New York made a special study
of the matter through official mediums.
especially concerning the Adirondack
region, and came to the same conclusion
reached by Mr.. Hough, and on the basis
of that judgment it has proceeded since
with all its forestry legislation.
We do not believe that this judgment
has been seriously shaken by more re-
cent inquiry and observation, though it
has been somewhat modified. Late re-
search and study tend to confirm the
general conclusions reached already re-
ferred to.
Now comes Mr.. H. NJ. Wilson in the
February Engineering Magazine" and
declares that:
Authentic and recorded observations
cannot be made to show that deforesta
fion has had any effect of economic i'm
waters. the regimen Of streams, or the
How Of springs. To sum up further, the
same causes have likewise produced no
effectt of economic Importance upon the
amount of precipitation. Deforestation,
except on very steep mountain slopes.
rarely leaves the soil barren. 1t is usu-
ally followed by cultivation or the
springing UP Of brush or other wood
growth, and experiments show that all
forms Of soil cover have nearly as great
IAN average retarding effect on run-off.
and as much influence on percolation. as
mas forest-cover While there is no pos
3tive evidence that forests have a bene-
fetal influence on precipitation, or any
greater effect on the flow of springs
or the rate OF run off than other
forms of vegetation there re-
mains slight chance that IT may infiu-
ence the last two processes. Accord
irgly, while there consequently appears
no good reason, SO far as water supply Is
concerned. for refraining from the cut
ting of woods over regions thereafter to
be devoted to agriculture, there is a
slight reason for preserving forest COW
ers on such mountain slopes as are too
steep for after cultivation. lest they be
Ne shed bare of soil and their influence
on run-of and spring supplies be seri-
ously affected.
Mr.. Wilson's paper is devoted TO three
branches of the subject only. namely the
effect of deforestation upon sources of
water supply. on the springs and peren-
NAL streams. and on the intermittent
and torrental flow OF streams by retard-
ing the surface run off. he antago-
nizes the idea that The shade Of forests
aids in retention of moisture in The soil
10 such an extent as 70 be material be-
cause Of greater rainfall in forest Sec
tons. He declares that the existence
Of forests which require more water for
their maturing. IS due to the natural
moisture Of the localities in which for
ests are found. That IS to say, forests
exist because Of rainfall rather than as
inducements 60 precipitation.
We have believed that the truth is
forests stimulate precipitation and favor
it because Of their existence and with
ont which the section would be greatly
less visited by rain. Wilson insists that