Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-07
TO PRESERVE FORESTS
Proposed Purchase Of Appa-
lachian Lands.
MR.. DEPEW'S SPEECH
APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC
BUILDINGS AUTHORIZED.
House Takes Up the Anti-Anarchy
Bill and Acts on Proposed
Amendments.
MR.. DEPEW'S SPEECH

dressed the Senate in advocacy of the bill
appropriatiHg &IO.tG1,OOO for he purchase Of
2.0no.H0 acres of land for national forest
reserve in Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Ten
nessee.
Mr.. Dcpew spoke of the reckless devasta-
ton of the forests that has been going on
in this country, especially in the last fifty
years. Already In the west forty-one ma
tional forest reserves have been set aside,
comprising about 46.G90.0e acres.
Forestry in Europe.
Forestry has been practiced in Germany
for hundreds of years" said Mr.. Depew.
Except tor this wise and thoughtful care
by the government, the fatherland would
be wholly unable to sustain it's crowded
population. Twenty-six per cent of the
land of that country is in forests, of which
the government owns two-thirdS- We have
left in our own country only 26 per cent OF
our territory in woods. Germany has spe-
cial schools Of forestry for the education
of her youth in this science The young
forester is taught all that books and lee
lures can give. and then is placed in a
course of from three TO seven years in the
practical application of his work and per
sonal study upon the ground. In that way
he becomes fitted for mis- career. The gov
eminent not only cares for its own forests,
but ii brings under it's supervision. laws and
rules those of private owners
In France II per cent of the country is in
the forest. of which the government owns
one-ninth. The governments of France,
Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria
control the forests whether owned by the
nation or by individuals.
European governments" he continued,
tare going still further in the line of forest
preservation. The italian government
found that their valley farms were being
destroyed by the foods which in the rainy
season poured down from their deforesteG
mountain slopes. They came to the con-
clusion that it would be true economy for
Italy to reforest these hills. They have
arranged for the expenditure of 81, 900 600
and this reforests only 100000 acres
France, feeling the same disastrous effects
upon her agriculture and from the same
cause. expended 12,O0O 900 in the reforest-
Ing of $4,000 acres and has made arrange
ments for the expenditure of SIS. 600 600
more TO complete her plan. 1t costs for this
reforesting 81 an acre in Italy and $50 an
acre IN France. Notwithstanding this large
expenditure it will be half a century before
the full benefit of the reforesting can be
telt II VIII be many generations before
the soil in the woods will have acquired
that quality of absorption and retention of
the water which makes it both a reservoir
ana protection for the farms below
The Proposition of the Bill.
The proposition in the bill is to authorize
the Secreatry OF Agriculture, at an expense
not exceeding s1.OvO.CO0, to purchase 40O0-
W. acres or these forests They are held
now IN large tracts of from 1.OC0 to 5000
acres They are being rapidly bought I'D
py lumber companies at from 81 30 to 81 an
acre. Inc owners. as | am informed, would
HNcA prefer selling them to the govern
ment than to individuals or CORPORATIONS
Inc reason Is obvious 1t is estimated by
the Department of Agriculture that within
nVe years the forests would be self-sustain-
ing. and after that a source of increa sing
revenue Tor all time to come. 1t is irnpossi-
Die for the states TO undertake this work
Many States Interested
1t should be done by the government be-
cause it interests many states and In a
large way the people of the whole country
1t preserves the hardwood forests and
their product for future generations 1t
Keeps upon the hills and mountain sides the
woods. whose influence upon climate soil
and rainfall is most beneficial to a vast ter
ritory- II prevents mountain torrents
Which VIII In time. as the destruction of
the forests goes on, turn q large agricuI-
tural region into desert 1t conserves for
manufacturing purposes that enormous wa
ter power which Will be utilized for a null
utGde OF industries which will give employ
neIt 10 thousands and add enormously to
the wealth of the country. Instead of he
ing an expense and drain-and ii would
De tEe best expense which the government
could make il that was necessary-it will he
one or those bene,icent improvements
which VIII shed blessings everywhere and
at the same time be seIf-sustaiuing and a
source Of everlasting revenue to the gov
eminent"
Mr. Depew said the project was favored
oy President Roosevelt and by the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture. and federal action was
Justified fully by public necessity
AT the conclusion of Mr.. DepeW's re-
marks Mr. Hale said that the Senate could
not fan 10 be impressed by the great i'm
portance of the subject. He had not been
aware OF the extent of the land to be pur-
--I hrlr he
ought 10 be taken upon the matter at this
session.
The Senate then began the consideration
OF the measure commonly known as the
London dock charges bill
MI Nelson tAinn-), In support of the bill
said the charges made at the London docks
against American Hour. principally We're a
discrimination against the United States
In response to an inquiry from Mr. Nc
Cumber as TO what guaranty the shippers
OF this country would have, In the event of
the elimination of the London dock charges,
that the Atlantic freight rates would nor he
Increased. Mr.. Nelson replied that there
was To guaranty, and could be none The
shippers would have 10 take their chances
on that. The steamship trust organized
by J. Pierpont Morgan. he said, might raise
the freight charges. That was not TO be
prevented by the pending bill
Cod deliver us from trusts declared
MI Nelson THAT Is matter which We
VIII nave to take care of later on"
The bill, he said. was for the purpose of
protecting the American manufacturer the
American producer and the American
Farmer which protection was needed all
the more since the formation of the ship
ping combine by Mr.. Morgan. LAS the sit
uation IL, said he. the American shippers
are IN the clutches OF devil fish OF a
monopoly. from which we ought to pray
every evening before going to bed to be de-
Hyered.''
The bill then laid aside
BIS were passed as follows: To rattfy
act No - Of the twenty-frst Arizona legis-
iature; declaring the Usage river to be not
navigabie stream above the point where
the line between the counties of Benton
and 81. Clair. Mo. crosses the river
Canal Bill Taken Up.
AT o'clock consideration Of the isthmian
canal project ives resumed, Mr. Mitchell
(Ore) addressing the Senate in continuation
OF his speech begun Thursday In supDort