The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-07
THE AMERICAN FORESTS
Views of Henry Gannett, of the
Geological Survey.
" oodlnnd. He Says. Should he Con-
sIdered 10 the Lumber SuppIy
and Flow of streams Originut
Growth OF Trees i'm the Couutry.

In a pamphlet on The Forests OF the
United States" issued by the Geological
Survey, Henry Cannett. Chief OF the Di-
vision on Forestry, says: The wood and
and forests may be considered from two
points Of view-as a source Of lumber sup
ply and as a physical factor with effects
upon climate. erosion. and the flow Of
streams. AS a source Of lumber supply. the
forest is, tc all intents and purposes. an
agricultural crop, differing from most 9TH
er agricultural products in the fact that il
requires a long time to reach maturity
generations-while other crops require
only months or. at most. few years.
The forests OF the United States con
sist in part Of what is commonly called
original growth, which means simply that
the forest is composed in the main OF old
trees which have by sunerance Of fire and
the ak. been permitted to reach or exceed
maturity. and in part OF young growth Of
various ages covering regions which have
been either wholly or partially cleared by
fire or the ak
The former areas bear ma lure crop,
the latter a crop in process o. growth;
the forest is constantly restoring itself in
all those regions where the rainfall is suf-
fcient 10 encourage tree growth: and in
time, If not interfered with, these regions
viii furnish a supply Of lumber as large
and presumably Of the same quality. as
that available when settlement FIRST in
vaded them Hence the timber supply OF
the country is in a sense. a continuous
one. Timber is constantly growing 70 sup
ply that which is used. and in this respect
it differs from our supplies Of iron ore,
coal. and other minerals. These, when ex-
hausted. will never be replaced.
The study Of the forests OF this country
has been carried Oh almost entirely upon
the botanical side Our forests have been
studied thoroughly and exhaustively b.
botauists. but the geographic aud ecorori
sides Of the question have received very
little attention. except for purely CONNER
cial or unitarian purposes. Even such
an elementary fact as the extent Of wood
land in this country we know only in q
broad. general way except for certain
limited areas which have been mapped ia
connection with topographic surveys.
of the amount OF standing timber avail
able for our use we know almost nothing
In view Of the agitation for the protection
~ our forests which has been going on for
at least generation. and which has
reached such intensity that il has become
with many persons almost a religion 70 is
strange that there should be practically no
knowledge 10 serve as a basis for such O.
cult.
We know in d broad way that me
eastern part OF the country. extending .-sm
the Atlantic coast 10 the prairie'. is natlr-
ally forestod region. owing 20 he fact
that rainfall is sufficient 10 encourage the
growth Of trees. Throughout this region
the only areas not forcsted at present are
those which have beer cleared by man. and
most Of these are under some form Of Guilt
Walton
Wherever the land is left waste for
ests reproduce themselves. Upon the prai-
ries and the plains and in the Rocky
Mountain region tees grow wher ,ver the
climate will permit. wherey ar the rain
fall is sufficient for their ne e.. and as
rainfall is greater upon the mountains
than upon the plains and In the valleys.
timber is commonly found upon the moan
tains. on the other hand. on the north
west coast where the rainfall is ample.
and in some cases excessive. the country
is heavily fnrested.'
] ne 'o'dl "Oodeu area OF the country.
excluding Alaska, is 1884 square
miles, or 81 per cent OF the area Of the
country. excluding alaska
The total land area Of Maryland is &. $50
square miles. or this there Is 2.55O square
miles Of woodland in farms. woodland not
IN farms 1850 square miles total Of
woodland OF 1900 square miles. OF A per
cent Of the land area The wooded area
OF the District OF Columbia i.-s been
measured from the maps o. the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey at
twelve square miles. The total woodland
Of VIRGINIA is q. 400 SQUARE miles.