Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-14

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which we think Mr. Mackay has fallen
into. that is. that the Deseret News
takes issue with his claim that animals
on the hills do not iniurc the timber to
any great extent, We do not dispute
his assertion on that point. the qucs-
tion now being whether the destruction
Of timber Affects the supply OF water
In the valleys.
our correspondent comes to the com
ciusion that "thc theory that forcsta
nre the attracting causes OF preciplia
tion II entirely erroneous and that
the Notwithstanding higher alti-
tude. the air rarer and coolar-arc the
attracting cause Of condemnation and
precipitation" II his theory were oven
Approximately correct. then the noun
tains would get all the rain. and the
forcat-covcrcd plains or rolling hills
would he virtually without H. whatever
Mr. Maciay may think " the scientists
theory hc mus, admit that. In the light
Of this comparison. his own does not
hold water to any apprcciabie ox-
tent
timber In tho mountains has been re-
duccd by being cut for fuel and for
mining timbcra yet the rainfall from
1850 to isgS was increased ouc-tcnth OF
an inch over that Of 1870 10 1859. the In
crease u timber growth In the valleys,
ns orchards. etc. TO say nothing u the
now growth In the hills. constantly re-
placing most N not all " that cut
meets the issue raised.
Mentioning SIR. Mackay'a argument
that dark attracts heat and white re-
polls Il. an scientific reason why snow
In the timber belts disappears before
that on the open ground u II sufficient
to say that the gentleman can find n
contradiction 90 that In his own or
chari. or at any row " shade trees NJ
this season of tho year. His mistake II
In forgetting the temperature Of the
earth or aoii where the snow has laid.
the absorbing power Of which II az Inn
portnnt a factor ne the suns rays.
II ~ fact. NJ Mr.. Mackay claims.
that the snow on mountains IN this VI
entity mclta first In the tracts ~ heavy
timber. except on tho sunny slopes OF
the hills. and sometimes even then.
This IL because In the timbcra the tenn
pcraturc does not fall M low aH ON the
clearing near by. and the heat OF tho
earth docs much NJ the thawlng. which
ON the open space II left to greater
extent TO the suns rays. Hut while
this II the case. the soil In the timber
bolt retains tho moisture much longer
than that In the open. The snow ON the
bare hill mag last I'LL July before Il
meliH. and In a few days the ground u
hard and dry: while In the timber belt
adjoining. where the snow disappeared
In June. the soil II kept moist
until August or September. the
roots ~ the trees ana undcrhrurh haN-
ing served nH reservoir wall TO hold
back the moisture. and allow It's grad
uni percola,lon through the soil to the
rircAmlcta below. thus prolonging the
fa ullar water supply.
The feet established By universal
data. Including that given by Mr. Mac
kay. IL that the timber holds back the
water supply. In the soil. not above
the surface. much longer than II Ia re-
tainod ON the bare ground. which often
retains the snow longest In frozen
form. but not any great length Of time
after melting. also that not the noun
tainH. but the vegetation thereon and
In valleys. ~ "a notable attraction for
water because Of the moisture II COM
talnH. thus conforming 10 the law ~
AFFINITY In nature. As to the vcgcta-
tion being ''thr sequence Of the rain. not
tho rain OF the luxuriant growth. the
dincuaslon u that proposition II much
like an inquiry an 10 which was mt.
tho egg or tho hen = We have them
both: and n tho care OF the hen II
necessary 10 the production ~ the egg.
nH the good timber bolt N necessary
IN drawing moisture from the paHslnR
clouds. then u IL proper To give that
care. IN this case the preservation ~
forest timber 10 the care needed. That
II the point 60 determine. In regard
20 the further question, ana which we
believe was tho primal one 10 which
Mr. Muckny's speech was directed. II
II matter of easy demonstration
whether or not sheen destroy the tim
bor ne says they de- not. but take
only the undcrbrush. which II a him
drancc TO the growth ~ the timber.
II that be- the case. then the permit
tins ~ stock In the timber ~ not sven
an incident 10 this other question. that
has been brought up, aud Mr. Maehay'u
speech introduced an element Into the
discussion which hnd no place there,