The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-04


many fines quicker than through air That
sound IS conveyed by waves is inconsistent 4
with these facts.
own States. There are localities in North
America which a generation ago we're
part OF the great American forest, yet now
are falling into that condition OF habitual
lack OF rains which makes good crops the
exception and not tho rule, and which Is
the precursor of the ultimately desert con-
dition. Even as the thoughtess stripping
VINO comes by Inheritance into large
estate loses sight OF the value OF his
possessions in the ease OF their aequisi-
! ton, aud fances he can never eshsAist
| what he is squondering. 10 We Americans
| have with spendthrlft prudigallty, wasted
tho natural advantages under our control.
There Is not a. man OF mature years and
| observing mind who will not, II ques-
! toned. be able to recall instances within
/ his observation OF dlmirution OF rainfall
going hand In hand with diminuton OF
tree growth In the same locality. a
steady decrease in rainfall being per-
ceptible wherever the forests have fallen II
before the saw of the lumberman and the Il
az OF the farmer and the ilre-brand of the
! stockraiser.
Utah illustrates the same scientific truth |
but conversely for the Mormons, who
found the country treeless, have, by plant
ing orchards. vineyards and groves, nearly |
doubled their annual rainfall. and largely |
Increased the size OF their lakes and |
streams
Near the close OF the last century lake
in the valley Of Aragua. In Venezuela |
was found TO be rapidly lessenlng In area
as tho clearing OF the valley increased |
so that it was about 20 become dry. a
civil war, however, breaking out at that
, time, with the vlruleuce ana suddenness
for which South American politics are
notnl the fnrpgf allowed a q
, up again through neglect OF agriculture,
and In quarter OF century the lake
and its tributary streams resumed their
S original dimensions.
/ DR. Rogers OF Mauritus gives this testi-
moIy: so late as 1854 the Island (Mau-
Q ritiusl was resorted to by nvalids from
= India and elsewhere as the Pearl OF the
=. Indian ocean--it being one mass of verdi
Y ure. But when the forests were cleared
4 to make space for sugar cultivation. the
n rainfall diminished, the rivers dwindled
>. down TO muddy streams the water became
II ttagnant In creeks, crevlses and natural
Is hollows. while the equitable temperature
e Of the island en'Uely changed drought
: was experienced and showers rarely came,
I The hills were subsequently planted with
= trees and the rivers and streams finally
y resumed their former dimensions"
~ George p Marsh, In MAN and Nature"
e says "A territory larger than all Europe,
ia the abundance OF which in by gone centu-
l. ries sustained n population scarcely in
e ferior to that OF the present Christian
N world. has been entirely withdrawn from
i human use or ut best inhabited by tribes
ID too few poor and uncultiyated to contrib
II ute anything TO the general moral or ma
IA teria interests OF mankind. Tho
10 destructive changes occasoned by the
II agency OF man upon the TANKS of the Alps.
* the Apprentices, the Pyrenees aud other
/ mountain ranges OF central and southern
"A ~ tNhv do
ID terioration have become so rapid that In
At some localities single generation has
ar witnessed tho beginning and the end OF
l. the melancholy revolution"
he Sir John Hercshcl. speaking OF the de-
10 struction OF forests. says "This is no
doubt the reason OF the extreme aridity
OF Spain, In Franco much injury has be H.
!, done In like manner by treo destruction.
~ Rain has been much Increased in Egypt
ra by Sigcrous planting. OF trees"
al ~
US The country where Carthage once COM
-, trolled her great republic containing 500
1, cities, is now treeless abode of INDECENT
OF runisians. Gihbou declares that 400 cities
70 once tlourished In what are now the arid
" depopulated plains OF Asia Minor. Pales-
~ tine, now but memory OF a shrine, WIS
~ the most productive section Of the ancien,
a. world crowded with cities and villages
'Ve and deemed OF such Importance at even
the late day OF her conquest that the
." Roman senate deereed a special 'triumphal
~ arch TO be erected In oommemoration OF
OF the downfall OF Jerusalem and ordered
ne medals struck with the proud inscription
m "Judea CAPITA" These medals have been
'ry found In tho mud OF the rlber and I'm
q Roman excavations. and this triumph orch
W. still stands IN the Appan way, in mule
w testimony OF how important Palestine was
Fse deemed by the mistress OF the world be.
:, 10 :, fore the tree destroying Turk made Il an
n. arid waste.
ci- The Island OF Santa Cruz of the coas,
~, ,a OF california was once heavily timhered
me and supported an extensive Indian popu-
ny lation, now that Il has been stripped OF
~ us forests 1t has no water and gives
ms no return TO the hushandmau.
tsu In Europe attention has been mora
~ ~ turned TO this subject than would be sup
VI " posed by one who has not given the
us matter investigation In every country In
ing the Old World save The British Islands
ol there are schools OF forestry, and suef
ncr schools are notably numerous ,and thor.
es- ough in Germany. In thickly settled
" france, so many lives were lost and sc
W many millions OF francs in property de.
! ~ stroyed by the torrontal flows incident
~ ~ 70 forest obstruction that law has beer
Iss- enacted and Is now In force Throughout
W. that repuhlio whereby II Is provided Inn
out y field become bare OF trees and Is N
lew the opinion OF the local authorities hetta,
neg suited for arborieuIlure than agriculture
NV governmental aid Will be given the ownrl
wy "a the way Of furnishing him trees Al I
i. VERY sugnt price, but II the owner fail,
70 % plant the trees, or having piartes
IN them. fails 20 care for them. the Ioca
ope government superintendent OF tree cultur,
Gus tnay take Possession IN the name ~ ~,
~ government and plant the Geld With trse
our q the cost Of the republic. Within a.,