Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-07
Agriculture.

At the opening of the session of this com
mittee yesterday afternoon, Hon. J. Z. Bass
of Bangor, in behalf of the Eastern Maine
Fair Association, was given hearing in re-
gard to change in the resolve appropria-
ting certain moneys for special premiums to
our two State agricultural societies. Follow
ing this the Forestry bill was taken up and
Mr.. John L Hobbs of North Berwick pre-
sented an elaborate and carefully prepared
argument in support of the recommended
bill.
In commencing his argument Mr.. Hobbs
stated that he appeared before the Commit
tee repre- sentng the State Forestry Conyen-
ton and Maine State Grange, both of which
bodies had passed resolutions urging the
Legislature TO take some action towards es-
tablishing Commissioner of Forestry; that
additional legislation against forest fires be
made, and that special encouragement to en-
courage forest growth be gwen. After
rapid survey of the general principles of for
estrv protection, Mr.. Hobbs said it was true
that Maine had sufficient forest area to
supply the present and future demands of
her people for home consumption besides
a considerable surplus of wood
and lumber for export. More than
three-ftths of our land surface is
now in forest in different stages of growth,
and because of it. abundance. IT may be, we
fail to comprehend the extent to which other
portions OF our country are being deforesled.
la order for US to fully realize the great
wealth that is being stored up in our wood
lands to be harvested by and by, if they were
only protected and cultivated as they should
be, we must remember that Maine comprises
less than an bundre i,h part of the land sur
face OF the United States and that the forest
II a.
per cent Of the fatal area at the present time.
Names future economic progress must
largely depend upon the preservation of the
present forest area. This will be the most
important factor in developing transportation
facilities and thus our manufactures and
agriculture Hardly an industry in our
/ State can be mentioned that is not in some
way directly or indirectly interested in this
| Que stion. Mr.. Hobbs gave statistics to show
! how vital are the interests of numbering,
| transportation, deyelopement of our water
power. and even agriculture, upon the sub
/ iect of forestry preservation and
growth Anong the States of the
Union New York, Ohio, California
and Colorado have recognized the i'm
portance of the forestsl interests by
| creating forest commissioners. New Hamp-
shire has also State Foresty Commission.
Maine. having larger percentage (e2,07) J
of forest cover than any other State has
greater tinan ,isl interests than any other
State in this question. Mr.. Hobbs urged
many reasons and gave q fund of statistics
to show why our valuable forests should be
under State control.
The alarming destruction of forests from
fires was referred to At length. The census
report for 1880 states that l0, PA ,0S9 acres
of forest growth were destroyed by preventa'
BILE fires. in one year-a most alarming fact
J The causes of these fires were critically ex
} amined and more stringent laws TO prevent
them were urged. Mr.. Hobbs believed the
present town government furnished . goot
] agency for the enforcement of rigid law
at very small expense. The selectmen o
! the several towns should be police to per
nit and regulate sll outdoor tres-
A In closing Mr.. Hobbs alluded to the aotio'
: of the American Forestry Congress at it
late session in recommending laws in tn
e several s,stes for the protection of forest
+ from fire and depreciation; for exemptin
certain forest lands from taxation, and fo
the encouragement of the planting of fore'
trees. The bill before the committee va
then urged . passage.
A, the close of Mr.. Hobbs remarks tn
o committee went into executive session.
Judiciary.
I. The champions of woman suffrage wei
IL out in full force yesterday. Besides SON
2 sixteen mt mbers of the Augusta League u
4 following ladies from other parts OF the sta
T. were present: