The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-06-25
Destruction Of Forests.
4 Penalty Follows-Thsy Should
Be Protected.
Be Protected.
Atlanta Journal.

is the cause Of the 1917 da
stroyed 60 much property and resulted
in such wholesale l6Ss Of lief
The most Obvious answer Is that
these disasters are the result OF chance.
Another reply, less shortsighted but
hardly moro satisfactory from sc'en-
tific standpoint, is that the Almighty
is directly interfering with the natural
course OF the elements and Is sending
these calamities to punish certain peo-
pie for their sins.
The thinking man knows very we'll
that nothing happens in nature by
pure chance, and also that the divine
providence works through logical
means. which he is encouraged by d.
vine command to investigate. Conse-
onently, he seeks for 4 moro rational
explanation OF these fearful phenomena.
It is a law of climate, universally ad-
mltted by those familiar with the sub
iect, that forests have conserving and
Q conservative influence on temperature
and rainfall, by which precipitation Is
moro evenly distributed and the proba-
b,lity of floods and violent storms IL
greatly diminished. "The essential
difference" says q leading authority
on atmospheric phenomena, "between
the climates Of two countries, the one
we'll covered with vegetation and the
other not, is this, that the heat OF the
day is more eq ually distributed over
the twenty-four hours in the former
case, and therefore less intense during
the warmest part of the day" In
countries of this kind, tho danger
from tornadoes is less, because, owing
TO the diurnal evenness of temperature,
there is a smaller variation between
the "morning maximum" and after
noon minimum" OF barometric pres
sure. Violent fluctuations of pressure,
and rapid changes in temperature, are
thought to be the principal causes Of
tornadoes.
Again, the ground under the trees
absorbs much Of the rainfall and 70
tards it's progress to the small streams,
which would otherwise be overwhelmed
With perfect deluge after each heavy
rain. The denuding of the timber
lands removes this spongy ground and
The rain rushes Immediately into the
creeks and rivers. These overflow
their banks and a disastrous flood is
the result.
May not the recent wholesale de-
struction of forest growth in the east
ern hall of the United States be direct
~ responsible for the floods and cloud
bursts which have caused such tremen-
dous damage during the past ten days?
But one answer seems possible, and
that is in the affirmative. It is clear
beyond doubt that these disasters
especially Of the kind that visited the
Spartanburg mill district-are rendered
much more khkely by denudation Of
natural forest areas, and furthermore,
that forest destruction is suicidal from
a climatic standpoint. A we'll known
writer on climate says:
THE countries BORDERING the Medi-
terranean-Spain. France, Italy and
Turkey haye suffered in = marked de.
gree from the reckless and wholesale
destruction OF the woods that covered
the mountain slopes, and many springs
which formerly existed under the shell
ter of the forest have now wholly dis.
appeared. -. The Anglo-Saxon race
has been slow to appreciate the value
Of the forests with which nature has %
literally clothed the earth, and the
history of North America, South
America, South Africa, Australia and
New Zealand ::bears testimony to ths
same improvidence and lack of consid
Grafton. There can be no doubt but
that one of the causes OF tho terrible
tamines in India and China is the un
wise denudation Of mountain slopes
where the forests absorbed q large Dor
ton of the rainfall which now quickl,
runs of to the sea"
The matter has assumed vital impor
lance. Our forestry department 10 do
ing what 1t can, bat is practically pow
erless until the wooded areas arc pro
tected by legal enactment. Scientifi,
forestry, such as 10 practiced In Ger
many and other European countries
Is the sole remedy for the Immature
climatic conditions which are alread,
noticeable from forest destruction. Le
congress be instructed, as by one voice
to pass such laws and mark of sucl
reserves Is shall bring 70 . standstil
this criminal waste. The folly an
vandalism Of forest destruction mus
be brought to an end ct once, or woes
results will follow.
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