The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-04-18
A PLEA FOR THE FORESTS.
THE USES -iND ABUSES TO WHICH
TUET IRE SUIJECTED.

EHtracts from Speech Delivered by
Hon. D. Wyatt Aiken in Congress- on
the Report on Forest Lands.
= The question being on The print
ing Of five thousand copies Of the
report on forestry. Mr.. Aiken
moved to amend by inserting
"twcnty.fve thousand" and said:
MIR. Speaker, I undertook to
rummage through this mass Of
manuscript to satisfy myself about
its contents and having learned
its supposed contents by an cxami>
nation of the captions to the various
chapters, 1 ask the privilege Of
stating them to the House.
The first chapter contains an
account Of the distribution OF
forests throughout the United
States. and their extent in tho rc-
spectiye States and territories.
Tho secon d chapter is captioncd
"Ihe meth ods Of preserving and
increasing these forests; > the third
speaks OF the methods of planting
out forests, and describes the trees
best adapted to different localities.
Fourth, "Wood as material for
paper making" Fifth, "rnc manu-
tacturc OF charcoal and it's uses,
with wood gas for illumination and
other purposes" " Sixth, "rhc
consumption Of wood by railroads.
the respective consumption for fuel
and for cross~ties." Seventh, "Inc
comparative value of different kin Is
OF wood for heating pulr"... y"
Eighth, "The resinous n"oli.t.; Of
our forest, and The European
method of preserving rcsinous
trees"
Now, Mr.. Speaker, it is a well
known fact that the rcsinous in
dustnes of the Southern States, in
which SO much money is annually
invested, are being seriously iniurc.l
by the suicidal policy adoptod in
this country of extracting as much
aaittr3fffnntine at fffnn from trees MS. possible
.n, mv VIC shortcSt practicable time.
rms gradual but certain destrrc-
tion of this immense industry
should be avcrted, and it can only
DC done by furnishing our citizal,
with the information conSainoJ in
this chapter. If investigation has
proven to the people Of Europe how
this industry can be continued fn,. !
generations, and yet not exhaust |
the means of supply, it will be |
worth moro than the cost of nnb- |
llshlng this report to our citizens. il
we by this means Inform them Of
TINS method. And, sir, unless
something be done to check the
present system, this great Industry.
winch at present seems cxhaust,css
must III Il few years be confined 60 .
very contracted area.
The next chapter treats of tbe
materials to be found in
This country. Can anything be
more Important, Mr.. Speaker? Iii
imagine not. This industry, by tho ,
Of raw hides with0ut
tuty, has enabled the Uhited States
% export annually eight million {
'ollars' worth of leather, and if Il ,
we're known whence we could Obtain ,
ne material to enable us 10 fan
Gather at still loss cost, our OK,
'orts might DO increased twofold to
o the advantage of that portion OF
uf iaborlng population. 7
"Thc results of the forest fros !
nd their occurrence and prcserva- 9
ION" IS tho caption of another !;
hartcr, and I would only ask, if q
nero are not towns and VILLAGES in "
ur Northwestern States that woul3 g
ave paid the cost of printing this q
tport could they have beon allowed +,
lth'n the past four years to circu y
lte this chapter among their y
eighbors? Il T.
The next chapter speaks Of tho q;
insect ravagos of forests, diseases, n
l III other destroying agencies. II
nat can bo of more Immediate in r.,
rest to the agricultural com.n,,ni- %, %
Us OF our country? Entire forest q,
Its are sometimes swept out of y,
'lstonco by insects, and if in this Tn
'apter we are to be advised Of T. tb
medy, that alone will be worth D.
Q cost Of publication. <,
Next comes the question of the 60
of forests to agricul- M
re A vital question none moro ~.
:, To-day the thoughtlcss farmor co
[ls his fol ests with the hopo and ~