New-York tribune., 1905-01-04
TO SAVE THE FORESTS.
FIRST CONGRESS MEETS.
Harm Over Depletion of Nations
Timber Resources-Some Remedies.
IFRoa THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l

Washington. Jan s-The first American Forestry
Congress met ar the National Rifles ATInory to-day
more than five hundred delegates attestng by their
presence the interest in and importance OF the oo-
{ects Of tle gathering. James Wilson, Secretary Of
Agriculture as president Of the congress welcomed
the delegates and delivered an address. He said in
part:
Steel has taken the place Of wood & for RI fencing 65 @ 20
ships 10 some extent il IS being introduces IN mouse
making Of machinery and for other purposes. Coal
and gas taking the place ot WOOD as r Lue a41
wood Notwithstanding these substitutes, increases
every year. and our forests steadily vanish hetore
The nation is awakened 10 the necessity of plant
Is IIeeS y o rssence here is in Itself the best
15ossibe nroof mat forestry is rapidly taking It's
appropriate place an active and indispensabIe
factor in the national economy. Ihe era OF fofest
agitation alone has entirely passed We are talking
dent Roosevelt has described IT, recognized as the
most vital internal problem II the United states
and We are al Tork, upon t. 49,. ,or.s. ,s ,...
vital than that OF the lumbermea. The develop
rnaut OF systems Of transportation upon a secure
wise use OF the forest Without permanent sup
ph Of wood and water. the business or the rail- raii.
whose production that business mainly depends
The Importance Of the public forest lands TO min
ing is direct and intimate Mines cannot be devei-
become productive without water. The public for
source OF timoeTs used IN our western Il'"es.
Representative Lacey, OF Iowa. chairman Of the
House Committee on Public Lands, briefly ad-
dressed the convention, saying that the question
under discussion was with which the committee
had long been struggling. He declared that the
movement for the protection OF the forests had
been late but not late for the government to
take hold. There was no nation in the world 80
extravagant and such spendthrtft Of its national
resources he said, the United States. The
forests he declared. had been destroyed with
wantonness that looked almost like malignity.
Their preservation he said meant ''Lhe preserva-
ton Of the creatures that abound in them. and
this is a work TO be neglected"
DR. Andrew White Commissioner Of Crown Lands
Of Canada was called TO the platform by Secretary
Wilson and IN a few remarks explained the sys-
tenn in vogue IN Canada of managing the forests.
He said that it had been his aim 10 do everything
"a educate the people TO conserve the forests, not
ol, from the point OF view Of beauty. but OF
merce as well. in her forests, Canada, he added:
- 80 rof giving fl away. He predicted much good
a. a result Of the present congress.
- pLtiadeir,hia Commercial Museum. took note
~ NJ wbites remarks and said that this country
s1S1si fooring with Canada. he called attention 70
,ba fact that President Roosevelt was honorary
clause when he spoke OF this adlflsIaLlo as oIs
That does things ana whose peFSonnei eouiileu
for much - ,,s-sereon oeneraf So
,,.5+r ~ fba Chicago Buriingt N and quincy Ran
Toads st Ga.t ers said the future OF the Republic in
syerv department Of industry rested upon me pteS
eryation, and, indeed me i.cIf m as ~ sdrnontshed
TIE Congress that II the IaeIhosIs s s+ y tt
the repeai u TIE 14iDe eresoiutions use their
.se-re directly on The con- nittees Of Congress
The & aIlst nor s Ev,1oroine and was devoted to a
5isetgsson of the question OF the AihpoilHhcs va
public forest lands 70 iTIgaI5oa poo.evelt will
address ths congress