Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-30

SNdSoSe -
Though many miles apart Texas and
Maine have one important question in
| common. This is the matter of forest
preservation. The Lone Star State is
RAPIDLY waking up to the fact that its
| forest resources are second only to the
cattle and cotton industries. AS a re-
| suit of this awakening the people are
| beginning to take a most active interest
| in the work. For the past two years
Prof. William l.. Bray of the United
States Bureau of Forestry, has been
engaged in making study of the con-
ditions in Texas.
OF all the states in the Union Texas
| has the largest wooded area. Nor does
| this include the chaparral growth cX-
tending throughout the Rio Grande
country, hut only the vast timber sec
| ton of East Texas and the central
| and far western woodlands. These are
estimated 1T $1,000 square miles. Much
| Of this territory has been cut over, cs-
| pc,ially in the shortleaf and longleaf
| pine sections, but conservative esti-
mates still place the merChantable for
| est area OF Texas ut - 900 square miles.
| There is now annually cut about 125,-
nO0 acres of timberland. yielding about
| | 900 600 OU0 board feet. The lumber i'll
Iustry is exceeded i'll value only by
| the cotton and cattle industries. In
| lis forests Texas has 81 species and
varieties of trees of commercial i'm
pOrtance.
OF the total annual output Of the
state the longleaf pine forests now
/ furnish 80. 0oo,O00 feet. Half of these
| forests have been cut over and it is
estimated that at the present rate the
supply Of timber will be exhausted in
| about Is years.
As is the case in Maine. Texas has
sold practically all of here forest lands,
50 that she cannot make large timber
reservations without extensive pur-
chases. 1t therefore comes down to
the Necessity Of each cumberland owner
using all precautions TO preserve the
forests. Here in Maine this prccauti"n
is already being taken. As has before
been set forth in this column and tn"
ide; is constantly growing. Not only
are land owners using care IN per
hitting rights to cut upon their lands.
hut they are taking all possible pre-
cautions 10 prevent the rc-occurcnc"
oG disastrous forest fires. In this the
state is taking an active part and tn"
effectiveness of Commissioner Rings
oorps Of fire wardcnS was amply
demonstrated both last year and the
past spring. In 1903 the damage ny
forest fires was considera bic in Maine.
but it is uncontroverted that the
vardeug prevented. by their prompt
work ma constant watchfuneSS.
much greater loss. This year They
have stopped several fires. which gave
pronlis" Of becoming serious and have
cxtingushed a great many "thers, al
most. before they got started.
on Friday = travelling library was
| county.
A PARTY of the young lady clerks in
the various departments made an cx
cursinn to Applewood Tavern last
| night. wh"i" they din"d and passed "A
very pleasant evening.
| on Friday the summer school at Will
| ton closed. after a very successful S"S'
| sion Of one week There was very
large Attendance and 1t is believed that
much good came Of it. on Monday
the school at Limerick. York county.
| will open and be in session for ono
week. The same corps OF m
| structors will Re in charge at the
| school as at the others. This VIII he
| the last of tn" summer schools for TINS
wear State Superintendent Stetsoi'
| feels much gratiIied with the result of
the work this summer and thinks thai
its results will be made manifest in the
schools throughout the State during
the ensuing school year. He believes
that this years corps of instructors Is
the strongest which the Maine summer
schools have ever had. which is saying
much. as in the past some very able
ones have been in attendance.
Recent visitors AT the State House
have been: II. X. Switzerland. Mr. aho
| Mrs. G.. l.. Prescott. Washington. ~
c.: Helen NJ. Shupelat. Evelyn l.
Shupelat. James NJ. Shupelat. Boston
Mrs. Mary o. Abbott, WinslOw; Rober'
woodill. Chas. F. Hatch, Portland
Mrs. D. r. Condice. Sadie JOY CASSIDY
Alice Gl1iden, ETileSt II. "'
Dow, Goshen. N. y: John Lock. MI
Vernon: NJ F. Waldron. Nassalooro'
Re-t Higgins. Canaan; Ellen L. HOll'
ouist. Louis M. Hammond, Brockton
Mass. Mrs J. o. Seeley. Nellie y
whitaker. Pressure Isle; Mrs. Fred l.
Lord GLADYS V. Turner, Gardner
| Francis Field. Mildred Plummer, mar
lowell. Mrs. C. I. Bailey, Winthrop; A
tP. Ladd. Portland: Fannie A. GOODWIN
G.. E. Shofter, Boston.
The wboard boxes in wnich .ii'
ballots to be used at the Septempe'
election are to be shipped to the vari'
Gus towns and plantations In the STATE
we're received. Friday, at the secretary