The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-21
THE RUIN OF A FOREST.


Pittsburg Leader.
The statement recently made by Superin-
tendent Falconer, of Schenley Park. that
the trees of Pittsburg and vicinity are
gradually being killed by the smoke and
dust from the furnaces is strikingly veri-
fed at Rankin. There on the side of the
hill above the Carrie furnace is a forest OF
immense oaks literally ruined, their limbs
bare of the least vestige OF verdure and
their bark stripped and wasted away by
the heat and ore dust.
Every day vast clouds of smoke and dust
roll over the hill, hiding everything from
view, blackening the houses and soilfng
clothes and disturbing the temper of house
wives. But the trees and ~shrubbery suf-
fered most, for there is scarcely a twig or
branch that is now clothed in green. A few
trees of harder nature stand with leaves
on, but the oaks and other varieties are
utterly blasted beyond recall, their huge,
bare arms lifted as IL in piteous appeal to
their fell destroyers. These trees are moth
ing but trunks and bare limbs, with the
bark eaten off by the vicious smoke and ore
dust as if stricken by lightning. Jove's
thunderbolts indeed could not deaden or
annihilate these trees as the subtle, less
violent smoke has done. The ruin is COM
plete. Where a few years ago a magnificent
forest of mighty oaks stood the pride Of
nature and of man now there is a CHASTITY,
piteous collection of naked tree trunks and
limbs. These blasted monarchs OF the for
est are mostly on the old Denniston farm
that extends on the west to North Home
stead. The wind blows in such a direction
that the deadly DldSlS OF carbon ana OCnre
ore dust is carried directly north over the
lowland and up on the hill where the oaks
stand. Out of the zone of this blast the
forest is green and the trees unimpaired.
The great heat from the furnace is said to
be a potent factor in the destruction of the
big trees.
One melancholy feature of the universal
destruction of the innocents is the case of
a gigantic oak that rears it's head all alone,
springing from the center Of a street run
ming parallel with the brow of the hill. This
is by far the largest oak in the district. II
Is perfectly bare-a Prometheus stripped OF
its strength and bound to be destroyed, not
by vultures, as the Prometheus of classic
page, but by as potent death-dealers-
smoke and ore dust. A few years ago this
| splendid specimen of nature stood in all it's
| proud strength and majestic stature; now
it is blasted as IL BY the lightning's stroke.
There is not a twig or leaf on 1t and its
bark is irreparably ripped and blasted.
The same process as is going on at Ran
kin is being duplicated in other places
| notably Oakland and Hazelwood. and in
| Schenley Park, where some of the trees
near Junction hollow are showing signs OF
the ravages of smoke and ore dust. In Oak
| land the entire hillside below Frazer stree,
is parched and barren as far as vegetation
and foliage are concerned. On top of the
hill some beautiful places nave been ruined
| on account of the smoke and foundations OF
ore dust which descends in huge clouds or
everything in sight.
Ten years ago the hillsides along the Mo
nongahela were beautiful and green with
foliage hat hid the bare. ugly places and
were a delight to travellers on trains and
street cars. Twenty years ago nearly the
whole length OF Second avenue was lined
with verdure-clad hills. The hills along the
| Allegheny river have escaped for the rea.
son that the smoke and ore dust blows VI
| the stream and toward the western shore.
SO far the Oakland and Hazelwood resi-.
dents are the only ones to file complaints
In court as TO the damage done their tree.
and shrubbery. At Rankin there are only q
few families, and the bread-winners ir
| them work in the very furnace and mill,
that produce the smoke and ore dust. The
settlement of North Homestead escape.
the devastation. In the big forest of oaks
| there are no houses, and the owner OF the
tract has evidently not thought II neces
| sary to formally complain OF the nuisance
] that has ruined his trees.