The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-02
SPARE THE TREES.
West Virginia and Virginia For
csts Should be Preserved.
CONGRESS MUST TAKE ACTION.
Chancellor Holland on the Need ofPre-
srrvlng Eorcsts- Woods Needed to Keep
Flowing the Sources OF thc Navignbie
RIvcrs-Importantsu Suggestions Made.
rhe plttshurgh pIspateh pnbIlshes

The Pittsburgh Dispatch publishes
the following:
Rev. Or, w. J. Holland. Chancellor OF
the Western University, Is Of the opin-
ion that Congress ought to take some
action to preserve some OF the forests of
the country The matter is of great
Importance, he believes. In connection
with the Improvement Of waterways.
Speaking Of II, he said:
There are few subjects II seems to
me, that should be more attentiyely
considered by all of the people OF Wes-
tern Pennsylvania, than that which Is
now being agitated, OF Improving our
communication by water with the lower
Mississippi valley. and also with the
great lakes, by means OF the proposed
ship canal.
Everything bearing upon the sub
feet IS OF Interest, but desire TO spec
tally call attention to the great impor-
lance In this connection, OF making u
forest restoration ~ parts OF West Viz
gihia and Virginia,
az the student will take the trouble
TO examine the map he Will see that the
MonongahCll, the Eanawha, the Poto-
mac and the James all spring from u
region comparatively small In area To-
GATED among the mountains Of West
Virginia. This region Is as yet largely
primitive forest. The s2bssratum is
rock. somewhat thlnly covered With soil
and moss.
Dtnudcd by AZ and Fire.
"Where the territory has been fnva-
ded in recent years, and the forests
have been cut down, fires have quickly
followed. and the result has been wide
spread denudation. not followed by
second growth, for the soil Is compG-
sel very largely OF decayed and semi
decaycd veEetable matter, which, at
tucked by the fires. Ia reduced 10 ashes.
81 spent some hours quite recently
With Prof A u. Hopkins, who Is con
nected with the United States expert
mcnt station at Morgnntown, w. Va,
and who is one Of the best authoft-
les in this country upon matters re-
lGting TO forestry. In the course OF
conversation with him ! became deeply
Impressed with the vast Importance OF
aEitatinE for the purchase by the ma
tioral government OF this region. that It
may be held as the Adirondack region
IL now held as q reservation.
81 very CRAFTY fear that unless this
IS done the water supply OF these great
rivers, which are now the arteries OF Inn
purtant commerce, may be so reduced
as to bring gradually upon us the de-
s;ructIon OF that traffic. II is Import
ant. II seems TO me, for the people OF
Pennsylvania. Ohio. Maryland. Virgin
Ia and West VIrSIHl9 TO labor TO secure
this reservation before the deed Of de-
strIction shall be done.
These lands might be purchased for
comparatively small sum, and so far
from being loss to the government,
have no doubt their possessions under
proper regulations would ultimately be
a source Of material revenue. Under
proper system the government might
allow maturcd timber TO be removed.
Would Yield a Handsome Return.
This would be sufficient from year to
year not only to pay the expense OF pro-
vidinE for the care OF the reservation
and guarding II against unwRrrnntcd
inroads but also TO yield handsome
return upon the investment. The ad-
vantagcs that would accrue TO the ma
ton would be considerable In the pres
crvaton OF the water supply OF the
great rivers. and ultimately possibly
in n revenue from timber. European
countries are wiser IMAM we nave bt'eH
in this respect Their necessities have
compelled them to care for their forests
and 10 preserve them. We may well
emulate their example. and tor one
UNI thorough convert to the belief
that the region that have pointed out
ought 20 be made II national forestry
reservation.
~ wish this matter would be taken
mp. | would suggest that no more COM
petent authority upon this subject could
be found than Prof a. D. Hopkins to
inform the public OF what he knows In
reference to this matter, He Is full OF
Interesting information upon the sub.
feet. As We are talking Of building
dams and digging canals It seems to me
We ought to think about saving the
springs from which constant supply
OF water comes"