The Portland daily press., 1888-11-22
FORESTRY PRESERVATION.
The Proposed state Convention to
be Held at Bangor.

1t is proposed to hold a State Forestry Con-
vention at Bangor, on Tuesday, Dec 18Th, in
connection with the annual meeting of the
Maine State Grange. This convention has
been called for the purpose of discussing the
question of Maine forests in their relation to
the general industries of the people, of lis
tening to addresses on the subject by persons
who have made it special study, and Of de-
hberating upon and recommending such acts
of legislation as may be deemed necessary
to encourage the planting and preservation
OF timber trees and to lessen the danger of
their destruction by careless fires of wanton
tIeSpass
1t will be remembered that preliminary
movement in this matter was made at the
meeting, OF the. State Grange at Skowhegan
last fall, which was eminently successful,
and resulted In an advance movement
throughout the State in regard TO the i'm
portance of the subject of forestry preserva-
tion and conservation. People have had an
idea, which has been very erroneous one.
that Maine was all woods, that our forests
were increasing faster than they were being
reduced by the demands of lumber manufac-
turers, and that 1t was sheer folly to attempt
to talk about the preservation and restora-
tion OF our forests. Such would be mere
waste Of effort. Our forests would be all
right. But this, however, has been shown to
be wrong. That State is wise which acts in
season on all grave matters of public CON
Germ, and does not wait for injury to be done
before it sets out to remedy that injury. The
problem OF preserving and restoring the for
est growth upon the wild and rough lands of
the State, Is engaging the attention Of
those having the authority in many of the
other States. The defoliation of the forests
IS becoming very serious matter. Timber
IS becoming scarce. In many Of the States
hard wood timber is becoming scarce, and
manufacturers are looking about for the oc-
cupancy OF new sections of hard wood growth.
The forests of Maine are exceedingly yalua-
pie IN these woods. Their value should be
appreciated, and the care and preservation
of our forest and timber trees be made the
protection of the State. More stringent
laws than we now possess to prevent and
punish the destruction of woods, by the care
less setting Of fires, are needed; and the
planting OF trees, as well as the better care
OF those already set. are also subjects about
which public information should be disscmi-
mated.
II is in view Of the great Importance of
this question and the need Of better knowl-
edge in reference to 1t, that the call for the
above convention has been issued. 1t has
been very generally signed by the leading
public men OF Maine, regardless of party, In
this city the call was headed by Governor
elect Hon. E. G. Burleigh, and signed by
Elias Milliken and several of our leading
off with the name of Ex-Gov. Robie, who is
very enthusiastic upon the subject, followed
by the names of Ex-Governor Selden Connor,
Hon. George f. Talbot. Hon. w. l.. Putnam,
Il. I'll. Elwell, John Marshal Brown and a
half dozen others. The Lewiston call was
headed by Hon. Nelson Dingley. Jr.. and
followed by the names of X. G.. Pingree,
James Wood. Daniel Holland and
others. From Calais the call is signed by
y. g. Gates, Charles F. Todd, +. II.
g n q IT.
f. Eaton q Sons and j. Murry Hill. all Of
them lumbermen. President NJ. C. Fernald
OF the State College, and Hon. John G. Tai
DOT OF Machias, are also among the signers
Of the call The Bangor paper is headed by
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin and has the sigma
lures of f. A. Wilson. Ex-Governor Daniel
+. Davis, William II. Pearson, T. W. Carr,
Augustus G. Hamlin, NaiC. Aver, Edward
Swasey, l.. Bradley, A. ID. Manson, Hon. j.
Z. Bass, Frank Hinckley.. j. II; Bowles.
McCrillis, K. S. Coe. Henry NJ. Prentiss and
Jos. +. Snow.
The above names show that the import
ance OF this subject Is fully appreciated by
the leading citizens and representative luni-
bermen Of the State, and they also indicate
that the coming convention will be distin-
guished one in influence and character
Many OF the above gentlemen, including
Ex-Goy. C0nnor and several gentlemen in
Augusta. Portland and other parts of the
sSrsatc, naxe 1niteo III an lnvtatlon 10 Hon
Norman Y. Colman, U. S. Commissioner of
Agriculture at Washington. ID. c., to send to
the convention the chief Of the forestry
division Of the department, Mr.. B. L. Fer
now, from whom the convention will expect
to hear. Papers will also be presented by
Hon. Geo. f. Talbot. of Portland, Prof +.
i. Harvey of the State College and Others
There is every indication that the coming
meeting to be held in connection with the
annual meeting Of that great body of Maine
farmers, the State Grange, will be one of
held in the State to discuss questions con-
nected with our forests and their preserva-
tiOn.