Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
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stroyed. but because of their detruction
the soil has been washed off the naked
rock
The terrible consequence is that it is i'm
possible now to undo the damage that has
been done Many centuries would have To
pass before soil would again collect, or
could he made to collect. In sufficient
quantity once moro 20 support the old
time forest growth. In consequence the
Mongol desert is practically extending
eastward over northern China.
The climate has changed and is stu
changing. II has changed even within
the !ast half century. as the work of tree
destruction has been contaminated. The
great masses Of arboreal vegetation on
the mountains formerly absorbed the heat
OF the sun ard sent up currents OF cool
air which brought tho moisture laden
clouds lower and forced them to precipi-
tate in rain n part of their burden or
water. Now that there is no vegetation.
the barren mountains scorcted by the
sun. send up currents OF heated air which
drive away instead OF attracting the rain
clouds. and cause their moisture to be dis
seminated.
In consequence. instead OF the regular
and plentiful rains which existed in these
regions of China when the forests were
still In evidence. the unfortunate inhabi-
tantS OF the deforested lands now see
their crops wther for lack of rainfall
while the seasons grow more and more ir-
regular: and as the air becomes dryer
certain crops refuse longer to grow at
all. That everything dries out faster than
formerly is shown by the fact that the
level of the wells all over the land has
sunk perceptibly. many OF them having
become totally dry.
In addition to the resulting agricu tural
distress. the watercourses have changed.
Formerly they were narrow ami deep.
with abundance of clear fha
year around: for the roots and humus
OF the forests caught the rainwater and
let 1T escape by slow. regular seepage.
They have now become broad. shallow
stream beds in which muddy water trick
les in slender currents during the dry sea
sons, while when II rains there are fresh
cts, and roaring muddy torrents come
tearing down. bringing disaster and de-
struction everywhere.
Nevermore to Bloom Again.
Moreover these floods and freshets.
which diversity the general dryness. wash
away from the mountain sides. and either
wash away or cover In the valleys the
rich fertile soil which it took tens OF
thousands Of years for nature to form:
and it is lost forever, and until the
forests grow again 1t cannot be replaced.
The sand and stones from the mountain
down to cover the arabic lands, and in
consequence. throughout this part OF
China, many formerly rich districts are
now sandy wastes, useless for human
cultivation and even for pasture. The
cities have been Of course seriously af-
fected. for the streams have gradually
ceased to be navigable.
There Is testimony that even within
the memory OF men now living there has
hRan a serious 6iIr,ipuf jnp the rainfall
OF northeastern China. The level OF the
Sungari river in northern Manchuria has
been sensibly lowered during the last
nifty years, at least partly as the result
Of the indiscriminate cutting OF the forests
forming it's watershed
Almost all the rivers of northern China
have become uncomfortable, and very
dangerous TO the jewellers along their
banks. as a direct result of the destruc-
ton Of the forests. The Journey from
fashion how the soil has been washed
away from whole valleys. so that they
have been converted into deserts.
In northern China this disastrous pro-
ceeded so far that no complete remedy
could be applied. There are certain noun
tains in China from which the soil is
gone so utterly that only the slow action
OF the ages could again restore 1t; al
though OF course much could be done TO
prevent the still further eastward extern
sion OF the Mongolian desert IL the
Chinese government would act at once.
The accompanying cuts from photo
graphs show the inconceivable desolation
Of the barren mountains in which certain
of these rivers rise-mountains. be 1t re-
which formerly supported
dense forests OF larches and frs, now I'M
able to produce any wood. and because
Of their condition a source of danger to
the whole country. The photographs
also show the same rivers after they
have passed through the mountains. the
beds having become broad and sandy be-
cause OF the defOrestation of the noun
tains.
One OF the photographs shows a cara
van passing through a valley. Formerly.
when the mountains were fOrested, it
was thickly peopled by prosperous
peasants. Now the floods have carried
all over the land and tho
valley is a stony desert.
Another photograph shows mountain
road covered with the stones and rocks
that are brought down in the rainy season
from the mountains which have already
been deforested by human hands. An
other shows q pebbly river bed in south
ern Manchuria where what was once a
great stream has dried up owing to the
deforestation In the mountains Only
some scrub wood is left. which will dis
appear within a half century.
Yet another shows the effect OF one OF
the Washouts. destroying an arabic noun
tain side. these washouts being due to
the removal of all vegetation; yet in
this photograph the foreground shows
that reforestation is still a possibility in
places.
Lesson for America.
What has thus happened In northern
China. what has happened in central
Asia. in Palestine. in North Africa, in
parts of the Mediterranean countries OF
will surely happen in our
If we do not exercise that wise
which should be one of the
CHIEF marks of any people calling itself
Nothing should be permitted
to stand in the way OF the preservation
Of the forests. and it is criminal to per-
NIT individuals to purchase "A little gain
for themselves through the destruction
Of forests when this destruction is fatal
to the well-being Of the whole country i'll
the future.