The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
DGNUDING TEE FORESTS
Bark Hunters Playing Havoc in
the Blue Ridge Chain.
sturdy Oaks Cut Down ana stripped
of Their Covering for the Purpose
Of Obtaining Material to Manufae-
ture Leather-Disastrous Effects
I. 81 the Heavy Raid Upon Trees.

The region Of the North Mountains,
along the valley of the Capon River, as
well as some portions of the Potomac VAL
ley along the Blue Ridge chain. has been
| almost entirely denuded of trees, specially
the oak, owing to the increased demand
for the bark of these trees for the purpose
Of leather tanning.
The consequences following this destruc-
ton of mountain trees in both these local
tiles have been very disastrous to the To-
cal inhabitants. who are indignant because
the Government does not put an end to
such depredations. The people of Wash
ington themselves have some ground OF
complaint in the matter, as the destruction
Of the trees. by removing shade, kills the
thick, spongy moss, which, in case of
rains, not oIly absorbed the water. caus-
ing it to run slowly and gradually down the
mountain sides. but acted as a filter. SO
that the rains did not cause the drinking
water or the city to become muddy. AS it
is, in the places named, the mountain
sides, once covered with magnificent trees
and yelvety moss, have become bare and
muddy ravi1es or gorges, down which, in
case OF rain, the water comes pouring in
muddy sheets. swelling the rivers in the
course OF few minutes into raging tor
rents.
The inhabitants Of the sections of coun-
try in which this bark hunting is carried
on, have numerous other causes Of COM
plant against the practice. Thus the
North Mountains, as does some portions OF
the Blue Ridge, abounded a short time. axo
in game, deer being especially plentiful.
The bark hunter. however, after cutting
down end stripping the trees. leaves them
to lie upon the ground, where they event.
ually wither and rot.
The fallen trees. thus encumbering the
ground, caused the deer to stumble often
breaking their legs and, in any case, him
dering their free movement. so that the
animals did not take long In deciding to
remove to other parts Of the country.
The quantity Of oak timber which now
lies upon these mountain sides, to waste
and rot. Is something enormous. gentle.
man residing in Mount Pleasant built a
house recently In which all the interior
WOODWORK Is made from the oak trees ly-
ing neglected among the mountains of West
virginia The contractor, who erected the
house, happened to have been native of
that part Of the country from which the
wood was obtained. and was naturally as-
quainted with the splendid timber which
he could procure at the mere cost of trans
portation.
The North Mountain region. where the
ravages Of the bark hunter are, perhaps,
most perceptible, is inhabited for the most
part by the descendants OF the Hessians.
who surrendered with Lord CORVALLIS &C
Yorktown They ere peculiarly indus
trious people aud the history of their set
tlemen tin that locality Is interesting.
After the surrender of the British, the
Hessfans. who we're enlisted by force, had
no particular desire to return to their own
country. and the United States Government
being DESTROYS of settling the North Noun
tain region, offered certain number Of
acres to each settler who would locate in
that country. The Hessians eagerly en-
braced the offer, and formed kind Of set
Element among themselves there being a
strGhg prjuGice against them on the part
Of their American neighbors They inter-
married with each other. and gradually al
nest exclusively. the dwe1lers in that sec
ton their descendants today. give evidence
Of their foreign origin rather i'm their
names and speech than In appearances,
which is characteristicaiIy American. One
Df the most striking proofs however. Of the
TACT Of theit German descent is found by
reading the names upon monuments In the
local cemeteries. come Of these names b.
ing those Of Revolutionary soldiers.
The North Mountains are extremely rich
IN mineral products. but the Inhabitants
Ihink this no reason why they should be
deprived of the full share OF benefits origi-
aally conferred BY nature upon their native
lof1