428 THE ROOSTER ROCK. [April 



pine, leaves tlie trees that have been boxed not only of inferior 

 quality for lumber, but the trees, weakened by these gashes, are 

 easily blown down by the first strong wind, or burned up by the 

 fires which sweep through the resin-soaked debris. In the Southern 

 Atlantic region and in the Californian mountains, roaming sheep, 

 cattle, and horses destroy the hope of future timber growth by 

 browsing off the seedling trees and barking the trunks of larger 

 ones. Herds of swine tear up the young pines for their succulent 

 roots and feed upon the edible fruit of many species. Worse than 

 all, from Irarning brusli, abandoned camp-fires, sparks from loco- 

 motives, herbage and undershrubs burned over to improve forest 

 pasturage and various other causes, fire is let loose in the wood- 

 lands, causing untold loss of timber directly, besides burning out 

 of the very soil the ability to support forest growth, and leaving 

 trees of the first economical value to be rajjlaced by inferior species, 

 like dwarf birch, popjile, bird cherry, scrub oak, and lodge-pole 

 pine. In our own State of Pennsylvania the immediate loss by 

 forest fires during the census year was more than 3,000,000 

 dols., and niai'e than 1000 square miles of woodland were burned 

 over. 



THE ROOSTER ROCK. 



NEAR the scene of this engraving, the Columbia river is two miles 

 in breadth, a sufficient argument for the conservancy of those 

 forests of the Pacific slope which still protect its fountain sources. 

 We have also depicted one of several points on the Northern 

 Pacific Eailway, wliere big trees contrast favourably with cliff 

 scarps sufficient to rank with some of our best British examples, yet 

 pigmies compared to the cannons of this Eocky Mountain district. 



Though 292 of the 412 distinct species of American trees 

 belong to the Atlantic seaboard, the Sequoia and Douglas pine may 

 prominently mark the unique size and beauty of those of the Pacific 

 coast. But there are other arboreal wonders. Thus, the Western 

 tamarack (Larix occidentalis) is not only one of the strongest of 

 the larches, but can resist transverse pressure and longitudinal 

 crushing force better than most American coniferous woods. 



In the adjoining district of Alaslca, forests of tall, straight trees of 

 pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock afford an almost unlimited lumber 

 supply. Only one sawmill, which is at Douglas Island, is as yet 

 in operation. But there is an abundant supply of Alaska spruce, 

 considered by some to be the best in the world ; while the yellow 



