Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-12-14

but in other states and nations of
the globe. 1t can be easily seen
that the Sylvaton idea is we'll cal
culated to promote an interest in
the subject Of forestry, and also to
educate the rising generation in
the beautiful and economic prob
lem involving the best welfare of
the state and its intelligent yeo-
many.
On the subject of the economic
use of trees and forests, the speaker
said: Who can enumerate all the
advantages and economics of trees
and forests? Not one; even the
most gifted of mind and soul. But
let us ponder upon some of their
beneticences. They conduce to
health, absorbing the vapors and
gases injurious to human and ami
NAL life, and yield elements neces-
sary to sustain the same. They
are one of the chief sources of the
wealth of the nations. In 1894
the value of the products Of all
the forests Of the United States
was $l,05S,650,S59. They supply
fuel for heating and cooking pur-
poses, and the driving of machin-
cry on land and water. They fur
nish material for building, me-
chanical and commercial uses.
They treble or quadtriple the value
of farm property. They provide
the means for the employment Of
many millions. of men at remuner-
alive wages. They make condi-
tions favorable for new species Of
plants and flowers, many of which
contain medical qualities. Hence
they are important factors in the
floral kingdom. They, by their
protecting influence, serve to
lessen the quantity of fuel required
to warm the homes of the country
and to reduce the amount Of food
eaten by domestic animals. They
aid to keep the surface soil from
being blown away by the fierce
winds. They shield and protect
from the fierce chilling winds and
storms of the land. They modify
the winter cold and summer heat.
They lessen the destructive effect
of floods, and conserve the waters
for economic purposes. They aug
ment the action of springs and
assist in sustaining the proper
1owage of brooks, streams, rivers
and the great underhow Of water
beneath the surface of the earth.
They tend, directly or indirectly,
to enlarge the volume of precipita-
ton and assist in securing a more
desirable and uniform distribution
of the same. They aid in the de-
creasement of hailstorms, break
the power of other atmospheric
disturbances, give more uniform
temperature to the weather, and
improve sanitary conditions. They
materially modify and improve the
climate for the welfare of the race.
They, in the long ages past, stored
the coal in the bowels of the earth
for human needs. They furnish
humus and fertilizers in the way of
decayed leaves and wood material
of the richest quality, and build
the soils for the use of mankind.
They give moisture to the air, cool
ing the hot winds, and thus assist
in preventing drouths and destruc-
tive simoons. They, in many lands.
afford much fruit and food for the
sustenance of man and animals.
They afford protection to the home
place, the school, the church, the
child, woman and man, and the
domestic animals of the farm and
the beasts of the wilds. They are
the embowered shelter homes of
the wild beasts and the birds of
tune and song and the habitant of
the fnney tribes in shaded pools
and crystal dseps, the medicinal
herbs, fruit-laden vines, berry
bushes, nut and fruit trees and the
fairest perfumed flowers. They
give a charming, home-like effect
and character to plain and upland.
They enhance the attractiveness
and beauty Of the home and the
landscape. They distill pure in
fuences, enhance poetic thought,
promote aesthetic taste, and exalt
the highest ideas and attributes of
mind and heart. They are the
sweetest and dearest play grounds,
and the enchanted scenes of the
glad, romping children, the happy
youths and maidens, the trysting
wilds of the fond lovers, the cher
ished resting place Of the devoted
and faithful husband and wife, aud
the cool, dear retreat Of shading
green to the old, the feeble and
the weary. And, beneath their