The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-14

AhS4N1ENAN LOW ANe W. thtl A Nus AS' ~
is expected that the movement set on
foot by the west Virginia Academy Of
Sciences, at its meeting here Tuesday.
an account OF which has already up
peared In the Intelllgencer, will be
fruitful OF much good. The Importance
OF the forestry and water supply ques-
tons, In connection with the agitation
for the Improvement OF our water
ways, particularly the Ohio md Mon
ongahela rivers and their branches, ris-
ing in the Middle Allcghenles. cannot be
overeRtimhted.
One OF the most interesting addresses
made at the academy meeting was that
OF President A. D. Hopkins, the state
entomologist, Professor Hopkins spoke
as follows:
IAN agitation with reference to the
Importance of government forest reser-
vntIons In the middle Allegheny noun
tain region OF Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia nnd West Virginia, was start
cd by the Pittsburgh Dispatch Of De-
eember 9th. 1895, through information
by DR.. w. ]. Holland, OF the Western
University OF Pennsylvania, and sub
sequent articles by members OF this
wide circulation by the leading news
papers in Pennsylvania, Maryland.
West Virginia and Ohio. and many OF
them, notably the Wheeling 1ntelligen-
Ger, have lengthy editorial comments
highly commenting the movement. and
urging prompt action in the matter by
Congress.
Numerous letters have been received
from some OF the prominent men Of this
state. among whom ] may mention
Governor William A. MacCorkle, Sena-
tor S. B. Ellsins, ex-senators Fl. g. Da-
Wis and ]. n. Camden, ex-governor A.
b. Fleming, and others. Also from
Secretary John f. Shaw. of the provis-
ionai Lake Erie and Ohio river ship
canal committee. at Pittsburgh, all In
dicating their hearty approval and in
terest In the matter, and n desire to ex- 4
tend encouragement and assistance in
any well directed, definite action that
may be taken.
This Ia sufficient indication that the
move IL a timely one, and, 20 far as
West Virginia Is concerned, / think /
may say that Il win receive hearty sup
port by the press, by our representa-
tiyes in Congress, by the governor. and
possibly by our state legislature. In
deed there are many persons In this and
the other states who believe that the
preservation OF the forests of our prin-
cipai watersheds is q pressing need,
and will give 1t their support and en-
couragernent. The American Forestry
Association. OF which we have two
members here. one recently elected vice
president OF the association for West
Virginia, will, have no doubt. help
push the matter, while the state Forest
ry commission OF Pennsylvania, which
Is doing most excellent work in that
state, can be depended upon to look af-
ter the Pennsylvania interests, and
Maryland and Virginia will doubtless
see that their interests are not ne
elected.
SIT has appeared to me that some pre-
limInary Investigations should be made
in the several states, embracing por-
tionsof the region under consideration,
to ascertain In a general way at least,
the location of the more important
watersheds and forest areas; the por-
tons that are available for purchase:
and the probable average cost per acre
OF sufficiently large and continuous
bodies OF land.
Possibly some cooperative commit
tee composed OF the proper persons in
the different states, might be organized
for this purpose. and thus be prepared
to give the Information that would be
required should any definite steps be
taken towards the passage Of any bills
on the subject by Congress OF the state
Legislature.
Prompt Action Necessary.
'I am convinced, however, that
whether or not this preliminary work
Is done, q bill should be formulated rs
soon us possible, with reference to the
establishment OF ppblic forest and
Nta an ~
mentioned, or such portions OF II In |
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and
West Virginia, us may in each state be |
deemed advisable, and that this bill be |
presented to the proper authorities for |
consideration by Congress at Its pres |
ent session. Then, II the matter mp |
pears, to that body. to be OF sufficient |
Importance, nm investigating committee |
Will doubtless be appointed to obtain |
additional information.
"PennsylvanIn, New York, and most |
of the New England states are taking |
active steps towards forest prescrvn-
tion and the establishment Of state for
est reservations. New York has nl- |
ready established quite extensive state |
forest reserves In the Adirondack re- |
Elon: Pennsylvania has an excellent |
state forest commission which iE max
ing strong effort TO secure the cstab-
liHhment OF state IOrcBt TeSerNhuOnS III /
It's mountain regions. 4
while West Virginia l1ns region OF
great Importance In Its vast primitive
forest areas and numerous sources of |
rivers which are among the principal |
tributaries OF that grent waterway
the Ohio--the present move Is the only |
one to our knowledge that has ever
been mnde In the interests OF Its forest
and watershed preservation, while Vir-
Rlnin and Maryland have accomplished
very little, II anything, IN this direction.
"All OF the most important water
sheds drained by some OF the principal
tributaries OF the Ohio and the head
whter streams OF the Potomac. James
and Tennessee are In one more or less
continuous body. with quite extensive
areas admirably suited to the purposes
OF forest reservation. by far the larger
norton IA In West Virginia, but II also
embraces adjoining areas in the three
states previously referred to. This re.
glon extends an exceedingly important
beneficial influence upon n large Dor-
t1On OF tho eastern, southern md middle
sections OF the United States, making II
one OF extreme importance for govern
ment control and protection. on this
account Il would seem, that II notion Ia
10 be taken In the matter at all, II
should be by national legislation, aided
na far M may be by special nets of tho
several state legislatures,
Thc Only Proper Way.
"whIle there nre numerous methods
OF establishing forest preservation ad-