Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-01-28
Mr.. CLOHAN ON FORESTRY
Address OF Martinsburg Man Be-
fore State Grange at Charleston.
URGES REPLANTlNG or TREES
His Paper Will Be Printed BY the
Grange and Sent Broadcast
Over West Virginia.

members Of the State Grange are hold
log very busy session at Charleston
this Rweek. Prof. T. q. Atkinson.
worthy master of the society, made a
very Interesting report. andxthe com.
mittee3 for legislation today made
several recommendations. among
which was one asking chat the reform
tax laws be tried before they are
repealed. The Grange Endorsed the
new tax laws.
A paper by Mr.. Alex Clohan, Of
Martinsburg. on Forestry was in
dorsed and ordered printed.
The meeting of the West Virginia
horticultural society will be largely
attended and of unusual interest. The
exhibits of.fruit is expected to be the
best ever seen in the state. The mem.
bers from Berkeley are hard at work
60 secure the next meeting for Mar
tinsburg. and it is confidently pre.
dicted that that they will land the
honor. The election of Grangs off.
GERS resulted as follows:
Worthy MASTERPIECE T. @. Atkin-
son.
Overseer-H. @. Skinner.
Lecturer-E. q. Lewis.
Steward--M. H. TAYLOR.
Assistant Steward--J. B. Duvett,
Chaplain--Rev. j. N. Thompson.
Treasnrer-Alex Ciohan.
Secretary-M. v. Brown.
Lady Assistant Steward-Mrs. O.
O. Brown.
MR.. CLOHAN'S ADDRESS.
At the annual meeting OF the State
Grange society being heid- this week
at Charleston. Mr.. Alex Clohan, Of
this city. the treasurer of the associa-
tion. read paper on Forestry. :"
which was one of the most interesting
addresses OF the meeting. It was so
highly REGARDED by the mem ers Of the
grange that 1t was decided to publish
IL in full for distribution in all sec.
tions of the state. Mr.. Clohan said
in part:
Probably no subject is receiving
mere thought just now than how to
preserve what forests we have. and
how to replace those we have SO ruth
lessly DESTROYED. The time for dis.
cussion about the vaIue of the forests
In conserving our water supply is
now, when theJbare and naked fields
with all their hideons scars appeal to
us for protection.
During the drought of last summer
how many springs aud wells shriveled
up and become dry? Why? Because
the timber had been cut away. The
leaves. the underbrush and the light
soil burned away at the fountain
head then came tho heavy rains which
washed soil. ashes and all away, Ieav.
ing nothing whatever to hold the
water so that what used to be a vast
sponge has now become thousand
water courses through which the water
dashes to the sea. and the water
which used to feed the little brooks
and sparkling springs for months is
now only a few hours in making its
escape from it's hideous surroundings.
Where we used to find those shady
dells in which we loved to wander
now the sun scorches. and the bleak
winds Of winter sing sad requiem
over the beauties that are gone
forever.
We work and toll and struggle To
make provision for those who are to
come after US. This is well, but can
we ever replace that which we are
deDriving them of. namely. the ex-
quisite enjoyment OF walk through
an unbroken forests
1.-THE woods were the first temple
In which we learned to worship the
Great Spirit of the Universe, and
pity the man or woman who has never
had the chance to commune alone
with Goo in natures bowers. What
can he done to make green again the
waste places of the earth? IF we
would only give nature little help
she would do so much to clothe those
barren spots once more in living
green. What are the greatest enemies
to forest reproduction? They are
tre, sheep and cattle. We all know
that ii we cut of u tract of timber
that the new growth will at once
spring uD and try to replace that
which is gone. Gould we protect thi