The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-09-19

II IuSslloA " aSh aAo iaN 1872
ply is one in which we are all inter
ested. The question of buildings and
building material is a vital one with
everyone; to those living in the coun-
try as well as to those of the city;
to the farmer as well as to the fac.
tory and the mill owner.
Until the West became settled, the
rural population of this country living
chiefly in the forested areas OF the
country east of the Mississippi River
depended upon the forest for thelr
fuel supply as we'll as for their build
ing material. Wood is still the prin-
ciple building material in small towns
and in the country, While a very CON
siderable portion OF the house build
ing in all cities is done with wood.
The settlement OF the vast treeless
areas of the Mississippi and Missouri
River valleys made necessary the use
of some other form Of fuel. Conse-
q~uently coal has largely taken the
place of wood as fuel in both country
and city. What should particularly
be noted is the fact that a or
the great inroads and ravages maze
upon the forests Of this country. due
partly to forest fires, but mainly TO
the destruction of the forest that the
land might be used for agriculture,
the amount of wood used as tuel
only. exceeds by a billion cubic feet
the annual forest growth.
According to the report OF the
Bureau of Forestry the area original
ly covered by forests in the United
States was $50 million acres, while
the present acreage is about 500 mil
lion acres. The total number OF cubic
feet of wood used for all purposes is
about 90 billion cubic feet annually.
The amour used for fuel alone is
estimated at 100 million cords. and
this in solid Cubical measure would
approximate Z billion cubic feet, being
one billion cubic feet more than the
annual forest growth. Wood is being
burned in our stoves n furnaces
| faster than it grows In the forest,
while the amount used for other pur-
poses is more than twice the annual
forest growth. 1t appears also that
| the amount of wood used for fael is
increasing. Now. obviously these
things cannot continue indefinitely nor
even for a very long time. Trees
must be planted to replace these cut
or destroyed by forest fires or the use
of wood for fuel as we'll as for other
rpose must oon cease.
IT is deplorable hat some govern
mental action Was not taken years
ago to prevent, at least TO some e@-
tent. the destruction of the magnlfl-
cent forest growths OF the country,
Within the last twenty years, how.
ever, by the establishment OF forest
reserves. especially in the West, very
much has been done to atone fer tbs
negligence Of tho past. System is
being introduced into the cutting q
the lumber to prevent the destruction
of tho young timber, and also very
great precautions are taken against
the starting and spreading OF fores
fires. While the greater part OF thf
original forest area of the country re
mains. the best Of the timber is CONS
and for the most part only scrub am
second growth timber is found. Our
forests can never be brot back bu'
much can be done and Is being done
tn erevent their disappearance entire
". This is being done by planting
trees under the direction Of the Gov
eminent, on many forest reserves, al
well as by individuals over the Who'll.
country. and this is something II
which everyone living in this countr!
can help. The value OF trees as {
protection from both heat and COLI
Is worth many times over the cost o
time and labor spent in planting them
Tree planting ought to become more
general on the farm. Fruit trees, for
est trees. shrubs, all add to the beaut.
and worth Of the farm as we'll as II
after years furnishing a supply o
fuel and building material.