The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-01

Washington. Feb. IS - The business of
lighting the sand demon is at present en-
gaging the attention of the Government
Forest Bureau, which has newly under
taken this picturesque work in certain parts
OF the United States, along the seacoast
and on the shores OF the Great Lakes,
where the dry land flows literally like wa
Yer, ensulnng houses, swallowing farms and
doing vast amount of other damage,
which. once accomplished, is wholly be-
Along the coast of Southern virginia and
North Carolina a chain of immense sand
dunes stretches for scores of miles endan-
. eering the llfe-saving stations and threat
enins destruction to much valuable pri-
vate property.
Steadily. though slowly, they are moving
away from the shore over the land. Re-
morseless as fate Is the sand Demon and
ne phghts everything that comes into his
Many village has he gobbled up and
Z many good square mile of fertile terri
tory mas he converted into dismal desert.
various cont.iyances have been tried for
Time the osly one found effective has been
Inc she planting satn1; q beach grass by which
Srass-clad hills. stationary and immuyable
ms process is now TO be supplemented
unaer the supervision Of Uncle Sans forest
IL. py tree planting, which, under favor
aoie conditions, will oblige the reformed
ano domssticated sand mountain to make
'ssiL useful as a producer of fuel.
,Ine term sand mountain is not misap-
pnso. lnasrnuch as these dunes frequently
attain a height of more than 200 feet.
agheir milsehievous ally is the wind which.
unoer suitable typographical circumstances
pIieS up the sand and when there happens
70 De big storm is capable of moving
nue. nunS dunes over considerable distances
within fwenty-four hours
Sucn state of affairs is found along the;
ssrsteh OF coast already mentioned, where
the Bureau OF Forestry began experimental
work In the autumn of 1901 by ereetirr
strong fences Of boards to alter the course
OF the most threatening sand hills
n fkA
CIrrituck County, North Carolina. About
nity acres OF dunes were planted with
peach grass in the spring of 1902, and there
afeady fair growth. In the coming
spring QsoS) trees will be planted over the
ssme area. and there will be nothing fur
fer 20 Ss,, De gone except to await results.
SStous selection or species, the trees will
snlye, and that within a few years the
,,, n8 , n,ii5 VIII be covered with forests
Yroouctive or supplies OF wood. which are
Hven needed IN that part of the country
MeAnwnie, th6 Government experts are
tsh6 slnilar WON at various other points in
tns same region, along thirty miles of coast
ana In due time all of that shore line pre-
samably will be protected by a fortification
81 -, tahThSsSsptsnted dunes. the once dangerous
ssano mis- being firmly anchored by yegeta-
uon and persuaded to do duty as defensive
barriers Exploring parties also have been
inn sand DIa 70 s study the dunes formed by drift
re destroying many orchards and ex-
Snsive areas OF rich agricultural land in
oer1ng transportation by rail There is
plenty plenty q. sf trouble Of The same kind in places
elong TIE shores OF the Great Lakes and an
appeal Will doubtless be made to Congress
Jet money with which to carry on the ex-
per1ments on a greater scale
Tree planting Is merely a supplementary
s sd the first and main reliance in
woIk OF this kind being upon the sand.
pind.hK grasses. whose strong, creening
roois.in reality they are modified under.
krouno stems-penetrate deep and widely
through the sand ana knit Il together in n
Ea.Mork q almost unbreakable ibers. Such
lumble plants take no unimportant part in
the battle which IS waged increasingly he
tween tween the water and the land. defying the
eneroaohment of the waves and only with
their aid has It been possible for Holland 70
WITHSTAND the North Sea and TO retain pos
wrested from it.
There are many kinds OF sand-bindng
grasses. but the best-krown of them all is
inc SAND reed, or 'nlarram" which is
me conspicuous species along the Atlantic
Toast from New Hampshire to Maryland,
Us long-leaved stems growing In tufts from
TWO TO four feet nigh, while its roots, often