Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-08
SYSTEMATIC 2EPLANTiNG
Railroads Arranging to Grow Their
Own Trees on Non-Used Rights-of-
Way-Wooded Area of the United
States Somewhat Larger Than Pre-
Viously Estimated.


OF forestry to devise plan by which
the area can be recovered with timber
and the too rapid run-off of the rain
fall prevented.
The region is peculiarly liable to
freshets, owing to its geological char
acter and the removal OF its timber.
The now historic catastrophe, which
swept away $4,000 900 in property and
half as many lives as the battle of Get
tysburg, Was but an exaggerated in
stance of many similar floods. This
tendency has been increased by logging
off the timber and clearing numerous
farms, so that the rainfall flows quick
ly from the surface, causing high water
at one time and the drying up of
springs later.
The Johnstown Water company has
bought many of these farms and torn
down their buildings, and now wishes
to expedite their return to the forest.
The tract is in a sandstone region
much broken, with valleys averaging
oe'O LNCI LII uCpIh. uc llJlDtI SOuSlSIS
Of hemlock, oak, locust, and ash, with
some beech and poplar. The openings
are from 20 to 80 acres.
AS soon as the weather permits, ]. w.
Tourney, superintendent of tree plant
ing, and another working-pla expert
of the division of forestry, will ex-
anime the region and decide on a plan
Of reforestation. In the clearinss, tree
planting will be required. An attempt
will probably be made to increase the
stand over the whole area by skillfully
assisting natural reproduction. Pro-
lection from fire and cattle will also be
required The expense will be shared
by the government and the water COM
pany, the former furnishing the expert
work and, possibly, some Of the mater
rial for planting.
The division of forestry is in consul
tation with three important railway
companies over contemplated inno-
walton in American railway methods.
These roads-the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe, the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul.
and the GAINESVILLE & Ohio-are con-
stdering raising tie and pole timber on
a large scale on their now n0n-utilized
right-of-way lands. Other western
roads are also interested
This action is due chiefly to the fail
ing of the natural supply Of this mate
rial in all but the newer portions of the
United States About one million acres
Of timber are consumed annually by
railroads in buildings and repairing
and, at the present rate of timber de-
pletiOn, the increased cost of such ma
terial will soon be serious factor IN
railroad economy. The Santa Fe line
has already done some experimental
planting, and the results have done
much to stimulate interest This road
planted 1880 acres in catalpas fifteen
years ago. The total expense was
SIPS, 600; but it is estimated by the rail
road officials that in ten years more
the tract will have produced 81, 100000
worth of poles, ties, and posts.
Having become convinced of the
necessity Of growing their own timber,
the railroads naturally wish to take
advantage of the assistance offered by
the government 10 tree planters which
consists Of expert advice, and of the
working plans for planting, based on
personal examination The object of the
government is to demonstrate the val
lie Of tree plantations to land owners,
especially those in the treeless regions
Of the west
A system Of cooperation for the COM
ing summer has been arranged between
the division of forestry and the forest
reserve work of the U. S. geological
survey. The latter is a branch of the
department of the interior. Field
parties Of each division will collect in
formation desired by the other, and, in
some instances, exchange Of men may
be made. This system marks distinct
change from conditions of a few years
ago, when there was a sharp rivalry
between the scientific branches Of gov
eminent service. The geological sur
vey will give especial attention to col
lecting data on forest fires for the di-
vision Of forestry.
Investigation of the causes, effects,
and means Of prevention Of forest fires
in the west, will be carried on this
summer in Washington, Oregon, Cali
fornia, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah,
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
South Dakota. Besides field study, de-
signed chiefly to discover means OF
preventing the evil, the division is
making a historic record Of all i'm |
portant fires which have occurred in |
the United States since 1854. Although |
yet incomplete, this indicates that the |
annual recorded loss Of forest burnings |
in the United States is, at the very low |
est, s20,000,000. 1t will probably run !
far above this sum, as the Pacific coast |
states have been only partially exam
ned. Accounts of over $500 disastrous
Tres have been obtained in the seven
-een states already examined. Michi-
gan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have SUI
,ered the most severely These records
Ire taken chiefly from newspapers, and
where it has been possible to compare +
hem with the figures Of practical lum-
oermen, it has been found that the