The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-06

ing our forest resources far more rapid
ly than they are being replaced. What
such a famine would mean to each of
the industries of the United States it is
scarcely possible to imagine. And tlit
period of recovery from the injuries
which timber famine would entail would
be measured by the slow growth of the
trees themselves. Fortunately the rem
edy is a simple one and your presence
here Is proof that 1t is being applied. 1t
is the great merit of the department of
agriculture in its forest work that its
efforts have been directed to enlist the
sympathy and cooperation of the users
of wood, water and grass, and to show
that forestry will pay and does pay,
rather than to exhaust itself in the futile
attempt to introduce conservative
methods by any other means.
THE department gives advice and as
sistance, which 1t will be worthy our
while to know more about and it's policy
Is one of helpfulness throughout and
never of hostility or coercion toward any
legitimate interest whatsoever. In the
very nature of things 1t can make little
progress apart from you. Whatever 1t
may be possible for the government to
accomplish its work, must ultimately
fail, unless your interest and support
give it permanence and power. 1t is only
as to the producing and commercial in
terests of the country, come to realize
that they need to have trees growing up
III the forests, not less than they need
the product of the trees cut down, that
we may hope to see the permanent pros
perity of both safely secured.
This statement Is true, not only as to
forests, in private ownership, but as to
national forests as well. Unless the men
OF the west believe in forest preservation,
the western forests cannot be preserved.
The policy under which TIE President
creates these national forests, is a part
of the general policy of the administra-
tion to give every part Of the public lands
their highest use. he policy, If 1t is given
effect, In the long run only though the
willing assistance of the western people.
ind that such assistance will be given
in full measure there can no longer be
any doubt
'I ask with all the intensity of which 1
am able that the men of the west will
remember the sharp distinction. l have
drawn between the man who skins the
lands and the men who develops the coun-
try. l am going to work with and only
with the man who develops country. 1
am against the land skinner every time.
Our policy is consistent to give every por-
ton of the public domain its highest pos
can be given only through the hearty CO.
operation Of the western people"
The National Forest Reserve.
1T want to ada a word to the creation
of a national forest reserve, which have
recommended repeatedly in messages to
the Congress and especially to the last.
1 mean the concentration of all the forest
work of the government in the depart
ment of agriculture. AS 1 had occasion to
say over and over again. the policy which
this administration is trying to carry out
through the creation of such service
Is that of making the national forests
mere actively ard more permanently USE
full to the people of the west and 1 am
heartily glad to know that the western
sentiment supports more and more Wig
orously the policy Of setting aside ma
tional forests, the policy of creating a
national forest service and especially the
policy of increasing lie permanent useful
ness of these forest lands to sell to all
those who come In contact with them.
with what is rapidly getting to be the
unbroken sentiment Of the west behind
this forest policy and with what is rap
idly getting to be the unbroken sup
port of the great industries by the gen.
eral policy OF the conservative use of the
forest we have a right to feel that
we have entered on an era of great and
lasting progress. Much, very much, yet
remains to be done, but the future IL
bright, and the permanence of our timber
supplies Is far more nearly assured than
at any previous time in our history. To
the men whom this congress contains
and represents this great result is DUE"
M. Jusserand Introduced.
Secretary Wilson then introduced NJ.
Jusserand. the French ambassador. who
delivered an address on The Forest Pol
icy of France" Ambassador Jusserand
was given a most cordial hearing, his ad-
dress being applauded frequently.
He spoke of the forest policy of France.
and after complimentary allusion to the
President, he referred to the destruction
of trees which had come under his obser-
walton in trips over portions of the Uni
ted States and said he questioned whether
we could continue to be so lavish. He
added: I'VE know 1t in France, we have
known it for about a thousand years "a
moderate computation). We have not your
bountless resources; We must husband
what we possess.
There is nothing lost in France, moth
ing thrown away, not rag, not bit
of bread. not a stick of wood. Many
think we are laughing. singing nation
If we were such. and nothing more, we
should have long since disappeared We
are a living example that people may
love to have their laugh and their song,
and yet keep their forests in good or
der. Method and gloom do not go neces-
sarily together.
Saved Country From Sand.
1.-THE sea coasts Of France were being
gradually invaded by the sand. and the
wind carried this death powder further
inland as years passed on. In 1910 we
tried forestry, and the forest showed
itself, as usual. the friend of man; the
sand country has entirely disappeared,
as well on the ocean as on the channel.
and the desolate regions of yore are now
wealthy, pleasant ones, where people
even flock for their recreation and their
health"
The ambassador said the Same careful