The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-07-18
DON'T DESTROY the FORESTS.
Dire Consequences Invited by tho wastefulness of Nan

One Of the questions Of vital inter.
est which copfronts this country to.
day is the question Of forest preser-
vstion. 1t is, moreover, Of peculiar
interest to the people OF the South.
The recent agitation for an approprie-
tion by Congress providing for an
Appalachian forest reserve has
brought the matter home to the at.
tention of many Of our people, but
there are many others who ere strange
ly blind to the importance of this
great movement. The following ar
ticle, prepared by NJ. p. p. MoCain,
Of Due West, s. g., in connection
with his course in geology at Erskine
Collage, sets forth very clearly the
REASONS why the matter should be
taken in hsnd with as little delay as
is poBfi5le. Mr.. NcCsin'e article is
as follows:
When our sorefs:hers landed upon
this Continent they found q land
decked over hill and valley with all
the beauty and splendor Of forest yer
dure. The three oenturies' march Of
civilization has been so rapid that tho
forest has hsd to give way TO the CO.
mand OF civilized man.
These demands may be classed un-
der two heads. In ths first place,
there is o demand for the ares on
which the forest stands, such 90 for
buildiugs, for roads, for railroads and
FOR agricultural purposes. In this
eaec, Of course, the destruction OF the
forest is nsoeaaarily complete. In
the second place. the demands OF man
on the forest are for their products,
such as for building material, for fuel.
for bark. etc. In this case tho de-
struotion should not be complete.
In fact, the principles Of forestry
teach that She truest economy will
permit eertaip syeas to be covered
with trees. It is for tho purpose Of
regulating the necessary removal Of
the forest and Of pointing out the
the msnnsr in which the products Of
the forest can be more advantsgsou5ly
harvested, that forestry associations
and forestry laws are so impers.ively
demanded.
Like.a other forms of animate ma.
ture, the forest 10 compelled to make
continual struggle for existence.
It's enemies may be divided into swo
classes. The animate and the insni.
mate.
The principal inanimate enemies Of
the forest are hre, Winds. foods, aud
syalanehes. Oe these, the most i'm.
portant is Ere. Forest fires, started
by camp 6rss, by she burning Of
brush, by the locomotive spark, or by
tho electric bolt. often sweep away
great stretches OF valuable forests and
leave their sress exposed TO the de-.
nuding power Of tho rainfall. winds,
foods, and avalsnohes are rarely so
destructive, and 50 there is only time
to mention: them in pas5iBs. !
The prinoips, animate enemies Of
the forest are plants, animals and
man. The influence Of the planta on
the destruction Of the forest IL Limited
to, parasitic plants and the natural
struggle which exists between the
different forms Of plant life for
tho possession Of tho soil. The animal
enemies Of the forest are GOO nnmer.
Ous to be more than merely mention.
ed; sene Of them are rabbits, mice,
gophers, beavers, insects and goats;
and they do vastly moro damage TO
the forest chan one would imagine.
1p Greece, Italy and Spain large areas
Of forests have been destroyed, be.
cAnse the goats have eaton tho bark
from the trees. ...
$The most powerful enemy Of tho
forest, however, is man. The axe of
the pioneer, 10 often regarded as the
emblem Of civilization, IL perhaps
fhote correctly to be regarded as an
emblem Of an entirely different char.
aoter. Man.. indeed, 10 the lord of
the forest and is entitled to the use
Of the wood thus provided for him.
II, however, instead Of reoklsssly de.
vaatasiDs the forests, he would exor-
ciae judgment and care In obta: :1ing
the ematerials furnishsd By nature, lie
could eontinna;|t6. reap es= 2h.:ye.ta;
for the earth would. yield in 4aabuu.
dsnce all The wood required for this
use:4 - =. 49,. Nv a.. : |
Bat there ire other reasons for sus. |
4aiHiuR. our forests than for tha nur.J