Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-11
ECONOMIC VALUE
OF The EUCALYPTUS
NATIVE OF AUSTRALIA, 1T PRE-
SCENTS SOLUTION OF MOST
SERIOUS PROBLEM.
EXCELLENT WORD FOR CON
sTRUcTloN. RAILROAD TIES
AND FUEL.

ural resources. 1t is a matter that
has engaged the attention Of num-
Der of our leading men in the ma
ton from ex-president Roosevelt
down. The government has a sep
arate department whose sole bust
ness it is to study the question OF
our timber supply, and this depart
ment is continually sending out re-
ports of conditions and prospects.
The wanton destruction OF our for
ests has been going on at tremen-
dous rate. The tide has not yet
turned, but the people have been
aroused and if they permit the de-
vastation to continue it will not be
because due warning has not been
given. Years ago large tracts of
timber were burned simply to clear
the land for agricultural purposes.
In this way an immense amount of
valuable timber was destroyed, and
the waste goes steadily on. Thou,
sands of acres of costly timber are
annually ruined by accidental forest
fires. Last fall from this one cause
certain sections lin the Adirondack
range were denuded and habitations
and even villages wiped out Terri
tory many miles in extent was fire.
swept, and the money loss can
hardly be estimated. And this is
not all Years must elapse before
this land can be again covered with
trees, if it ever is, and in the mean
time the economic loss that the sur
rounding country will have to suf-
fer on this account cannot be COM
puted Besides this, the destruction
of timber for fuel for fencing, for
building, and last bit not least, for
pulp, which latter purpose threat
ems to exterminate some sections of
our forest growth. and for all other
uses, reaches a staggering amount
annually.
At the rate the timber has been
slaughtered during recent years it
is estimated by the forest depart
ment in Washington, that every
available tree will be chopped down
inside of thirty years If this should
happen and our country be denuded
of forests, the aspect of this fair
land of ours would be entirely chang
ed and our agriculture would have
to be turned into dry farming. This
is the dark side of the question
A Brighter. side-. as
The last few years we have been
going quite rapidly back into the
stone age. The production of ce-
ment and it's extensive use for build
ings. bridges, sky-scrapers. etc, has
swiftly taken the place of other
building material, including wood
To cement we may therefore look
for considerable relief in staying the
ravages of our timber supply
Great attention is also being Civ
en-, both in Europe and in this coun-
try, to developing the endless peat
beds and producing from them an
economical and clean fuel. When
the making of peat bricks shall have
been put on an economic ard prac-
teal basis, this, too, will afford re-
lief in the way of sparing our for
ests.
But the chief hope OF relief lies
in the planting and cultivation OF
the Eucalyptus tree, which a kindly
fate has put in the way of mankind
as substitute for that which he
has so thoughtlessly destroyed. The
home of the Eucalyptus is Austria
liza. Tasmania and adjoining islands
where 1t grows abundantly in a.
great number of varieties Some
years ago seed of the Eucalyptus
was brought to southern Europe and
to the semi-tropical portions of the
United states. The industry has had
a steady and rapid growth, and
southern California and Arizona now
have large groves or forests Of var
ious varieties of this famous tree.
The Eucalyptus is a fast growing
tree and produces excellent wood for
manufacturing for construction a4d
for fuel. The railroads have been
quick to see the advantage Of the
Eucalyptus tree, and ii is already
being extensively used for railroad
ties, fence posts, etc And for the
use in the building of houses as
well as for the manufacture OF We
h'eles and agricultural implements.
is said to be most available.
Railroad companies are planting
Eucalyptus alongside their tracks to
supply themselves with ties at rea-
sonable cost as the product gets
steadily higher with the gradual ex.
tinction of our forest resources.
1t takes the eucalyptus tree but
ten years to reach such state of
maturity that at the end of that
time Il is suitable for railroad ties.
Its growth is RAPID. and for this
reason if fer no Other. should be
popular It Is fine shade tree. the
leaves are oblong and similar to
those OF the Ash tree.