New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-07
PRESERVE THE FORESTS.
WORK OF THE CONGRESS IN ATLANTA
REPORTS OF PROGRESS IN THE VARIOUS STATES
IRRIGATION AND THE PINE WOODS OF
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SLOPES
DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN NATION
AL LESlSLATlON.
'fsY rELEaxArH TO THE TRrBUNEI


Atlanta, Dec. 6-The three sessions OF the Forestry
Congress to-day have been crowded with valuable
material. The morning was devoted TO reports rom
those States Of the Union from which representatives
were present Responses made as follows
Maine, tho report OF tho New-Engand Commissioners
read by Secretary Z. f. Fcrnon; New-Ilampshre, D.
d. Lyman; Massachusetts, J. D. W. French; Con-
necticut, Walter d. Smith; Vermont, J. b. HARRISON
Of New Hampshire; New-York DR.. william H. Hdlo'
OF Albany Pennsylvania, Thomas d. Edge and Pro
fessor Charles c. Buney District OF Columbia Gen
eral Adolphus w. Greedy and Professor Fernon south
Carolina H. A. Green; Georgia, Nelson Tint, OF Al
bany Ca Florida, Mrs Ellen &. Long, Aaoaais
Professor Charles Mohr; Minnesota. Richard Choa'o'
Ohio, Leo weltz; Illinois, J. W. Miner; iowa, V. j.
shIpman formerly Of that State, now OF Florida Ken
lucky, Judge W. T. Knott; Montana Wyoming and
Colorado, Colonel Edgar I. Ensign California report
Of Albert Kinney, chairman OF the state foarn Oh
Forestry read by Secretary Fernon Arbor Gays nave
now been appointed in almost all States a report
In regard to the effort of the Forestry Congress TO
secure the passage BY the National Congress OF Dill
for the prserv alton and management Of the pubic
t,nber lands was made by Mr.. Egeston. Of the Com
mittee on legislation Such a bill, prepared year
ago by the Forestry Congress, was presented 70 Con
aress carly in the last session. Memorials IN us Oe-
half from eminent persons and ASSOCIATIONS III various
parts of tho country also sent to Congress- Inc
Committse on Legislation used every means IN thelr
h nv the committees in tho House OF Representatives
and Senate to whom It was referred But the House
Committee smothcrcd tho bill In one OF their own
which was defective. In the Senate the bill did not
even hearing
General Greedy read a paper tho rainfall Of
twelve States and Territories mostly IN the arid
regions The bearing Of the water supply on forestry
depends on the view taken by tho Geological Survey.
member Of this corps recently stated that he hoped
the time would soon como when the Rocky Mountains
would be stripped Of every tree, so that hero "ould
be no obstruction to the free flow of wafer. inc
States covered by General Greeys paper Include moro
than half the area Of the United States Recent Cd
servat0ns show much larger rainfall In The ara
regions than has been supposed. The import aucc Oh
this has been demonstrated by the experience OF
Australia showing increased yield OF wheat In pro
portion with increased rainfall The RESTRICTION Oh
the Indians reservations has removed one source
OF fires and q new growth OF forest has sprung up
within ten years Cloud-bursts occur almost In
variably in regions destitute of forests. The IN
nuence Of forests in increasing rainfall has probably
been over.rated though they seem TO exert this In
fuenoo to a slight extent Thor great value is IN
conserving and slowly parting with tho supply
Colonel Ensign read q plea for Rocky Mountain
forests He estimates that these iorcsV occupy
o. 600 square miles, about 10 per cent OF the area
Of that region The trees mainly comfers, on
tho mountain slopes from $500 TO 1900 feet aooVo
ssa level Largo tracts from which the evergreen
forest has been burned covered with quahng aspen
This region gives rise to numerous ana important
rivers II Will soon be largely devoted TO agriculture
promoted by irrigation, which requires an aOuho@h'
and unfailing water supply. The storage ana u'Az%
ton of these supplies is Of the utmost Importance
TIL. wcllpnown effect Of forests water supply de-
monstrate, the great Importance Of caring Tor their
p.rpetuity Tho principal destructive agencies 10 DO
avcred are fire, railway construction, iu"oerins -
mining operations and charcoal inanuisc'ui'' Inv
large amount Of charcoal used In reducing ORES anu
the ruthless havoc OF charoalmakors threaten th'o
forests with destruction Mineral coal can Do uso'
for the same purpose and its is urgently recon-
,.a IN or,.r IN avert threatened extinction OF tho
for.s,s Colonel Ensign also read paper OH
Colorado forests
Professor Egleston read paper on the FORESTRY
outlook Notwithstanding the disappointment al tho
failure of Congress enact suitable ieelsauoh tholo
Is . general rising Of the lido OF pubic opinion III
regard to forestry matters under the leadership Oh hc
press. The slow progress is characteristic Oh all
schemes Of education. The paper reviewed IN detall
the condition of the different parts OF the Ohi'eu
states The State Of New-York he says Is The ohy
Eastern State which has any public lands OF ~ 10
under Government control i,ooo' :" & Satsk,iIs
Cratfyinc results followed the appointment OF mo
Forest Commission In 1855, the ray ages OF hre nav
heen almost entirely checked, timber thleVlhR aIai
other depredauons suppressed and $4,000 recovered
from former trespassers The result Is seeh Ill
W" Professor Charles Mohr read paper entitled
What are the interests Of private owners OF forest
lands In view Of the present status OF thc lumDcr
i interest :. and O. Watknson paper. containing
Some suggestions for the protection OF our shauo
forest trees.n senator Brown made briet address
ernressIng sympathy with the work of the Congress.
II was regretted that the Governor and Mayor were
unable to take part personally IN .ae pDc ard b
their authority last evening An invitation mas Decp
accepted, however, TO social reception az 'e 10y
errors house this evening at the close OF the WORKING
session.