Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-28
FOREST PRESERVATION.
An Engineer Points Out the Danger OF
the Present Wsstefulness.

DEER PARK, Md, June 25.-At the
opening of the morning session of the
second day Of the convention Of the Ameri-
can Society Of Engineers F. COllingwood,
/ Of Elizabeth, n. j.. read a paper on the
/ preservation of forests. The paper pre-
sented a large number of statistics col
lected from various sources, Its purpose
being to show the necessity Of exercising
economy on forest products and the APP
parent possibility Of a wood famine. The
writer concluded that the supply Of white
pine iu the United States is certain to
be exhausted before the end of this cen
fury, and probably in Canada also. OF
the Southern pines, at the present rate Of
consumption there is stated to be 100
years supply Of spruce and hemlOck east
OF the Mississippi. There is probably a
- years supply of hard woods. The
supply of black walnut and ash are being
rapidly exhausted. The supplies Of other
kinds Of wood are however, so abundant
that famine cannot be predicted.
In reference TO tree planting, the
writer stated that when intellgently I'M
dertaken in regions where timber is
scarce fair return is made on the invest
ment. In the discussion that followed it
was insisted by Messrs. ColingwOod,
Eggleston and others that timber plant
ing can be made as profitable as crop
planting. A paper entitled, "Spectica-
tons for the strength Of iron bridges"
by Jos. NJ. Wilson, engineer OF bridges
and buildings Of the Pennsylvania Rail
road, was read by Capt. Miohaels.
LONG DISCUSSION.
Various supplementary papers on the
same subject were read The papers gave
rise to tensive discussion, which ex-
hausted the remainder of the morning
session.
J. E. Watkins, representing the new
department which has been recently
added 10 the national museum at Wash
lngtOn for collecting engineering relics
and exhibits, asked for the cO-Opera-
ton OF the society in making this depart
ment a valuable one.
In the afternoon an excursion was made
by invitation OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad to Buckhorn wall and Cheat
river.
At the evening session a majority re-
port OF the committee on q uniform sys-
tenn for tests of dement's was read. A
minority report was presented by Messrs.
WbittemOre and Norton, which objected
to the majority report so far as il formu-
lated a standard for dement's. Both re-
ports were received and ordered printed.
The committee on a uniform standard
Of time reported progress, and was con-
tinued.
INVITED TO LONDON.
An invitation was received from the
managers of the proposed exhibition in
London in 1886 inviting the society to
hold its next meeting IN London Letters
were read from other scientific societies
assuring the society of tearty welcome.
The question was laid over.
Mr.. Wilmington proposed a resolution
looking to the cooperation of the society
with other engineering associations and
the formation Of a national engineering
society. The matter was referred to a
committee.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Latimer
requesting that no liquors be allowed at
the annual dinner, which will take place
tomorrow.
The motion received no second until
Mr.. North seconded il, not because he
would not like to have wine, but out of
respect for the man who had the courage
TO make such a motion. 1t was ruled out
OF order. The following committee was
appointed to nominate officers for the
coming year: J. Fl. Shedd, NJ. J. Becker,
Rudolph Fink, D. J. Whittemore and q.
II. Mendell.