8 



been a constant cuttiiiK off of the remaining tiuiberland. The following 

 figures from the statistician's report shows this condition: 



1881 07.574 acres timlierland. 



1882 (J2,983 acres timlierland. 



1883 09.300 acres timlterlaiid. 



1884 09.451 acres timberland. 



1885 40,508 acres timberland. 



1880 44.183 acres timberland. 



1000 7.184 acres timberland. 



The discrepancies in the early returns are due to inaccurate data; the 

 later reports are more reliable. They are sufficient to show the vast 

 decrease in our forest area. In fifteen years 39,324 acres of timber was 

 removed at the rate of 2.021 acres per year. If this rate were kept up all 

 the remaining timlterland would be deforested in 2.7 years, but. of course, 

 the decrease in the amount and value of the timlier would tend to lessen 

 the annual rate of removal. 



The census reiiort tor 10(10 stat"s that the numbei- of acr(>s in timber 

 but not in pasture land in T'nion Township is 2.240. Mucli of this, how- 

 ever, is in small lots or groves and has had most of its l)est timber re- 

 moved. This 2.240 acres is Ijut 3.1 per cent, of total area of the township 

 and is divided into 103 tracts or lots, only thirty-seven of which contain 

 twenty acres or more. Of this latter number only eighteen contain as 

 much as forty acres, and only one of 100 acres. 



Kipley Township is rugged and broken toward the south and has re- 

 maining a larger proportionate acreage of forest. There are twenty-six 

 tracts of twenty or more acres reported, making a total of 1,273 acres, 

 comprising 50 per cent, of the total area. Much of this land is covered 

 with beech, which, however, is not a very prolitable timber. The soil, 

 especially toward the southern part, is generally poor clay, and if stocked 

 with young trees would soon Itring much more than can be realized from 

 the same ground at present. 



Brown Township is also much broken along the course of Sugar Creek. 

 Only fifteen tracts of over twenty acres were reported, but most of these 

 areas are large, giving a total of 050 acres or 2.7 per cent. Much of this 

 timber is beech, though white oak is also abundant. The region near 

 the mouth of Indian Creek, known as Pine Hills, is covered with pine and 

 hemlock, iSome of these trees are very large with straight, towering 



