The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-22
NORTH CAROLINA READY TO
WORK AGAIN.

The expressions of President Roose-
Welt during the course of Thursdays
speech with reference to the Appala-
chan Park and the preservation OF
forests received the applause winch
was warranted by their Importance TO
the State and to large part or the
South. Especially did the people APP
preciate his extemporaneous state
ment that he could be counted on to
do all he could, but that he did not
think that the people affected prop
erly appreciated the need of tIf> for
estry reforms.
Said the President in part:
"Such reserves would be a paying
investment not only in protection to
many interests, but in dollars and
cents to the government. The i'm
portance to the Southern people of
protecting the Southern mountain
forests is obvious. These forests are
the best defense against the floods
which, in the recent past, have, dur
ing a single twelvemonth, destroyed
property officially valued at nearly
twice what it would cost to buy the
Southern Appalachian Reserve. The
maintenance of your Southern water
powers is not less important than the
prevention of floods. because if they
are injured your manufacturing in
terests will suffer with them. The
perpetuation of your forests, which
have done SO much for the South,
should be one of the first objects of
YOUR public men. The two Senators
from North Carolina have taken an
honorable part in this movement. But
/ do not think that the people of
North Carolina, or OF any otnef
Southern State, have quite grasped the
importance of this movement to the
commercial development and prosper
ity of the South
What he states as to the duty of
preservation as preventive OF floods
and a conservitor of water-powers
will be heartily endorsed by all think
ing men. The President, however,
was inadvertent when he ascribed to
rg,r.h Carolina the Same lethargy
which has obtained in other sections.
1t was but a few years ago that every
North Carolinian in Congress was
working might and main for the very
legislation which the President now
so warmly endorses. A delegation OIL
MANY of the leading men in the State
went to Washington, worked hard for
the measure and secured It's passage
by the Senate. 1t was then that
Speaker Henderson, after a majority
of the House had been pledged to the
support of the bill, stated that ne
would not permit it's consideration.
Under the peculiar working of the
rules of the House, that ended the
matter. 1t was only then that North
Carolinians ceased to agitate Ihey
had gone up against wall. Ihey
were helpless. Afterwards when Mr..
Cannon became speaker he, too,
proved antagonistic to the measure,
although he has not gone so Tar 80
Speaker Henderson and flatfootediy
stated that he would not permit its
consideration.
Forest preservation is, therefore, in
this State. The President is for it,
every Southern State is for it, it may
we'll be believed that majority OF
the Congress is for it. 1t is wise
and a greatly needed measure. The
duty of agitation is plain. Let North
Carolina go to work, taking fresh
courage, counting on the tender of
the Presidents acceptance. Let all
the other Southern States work to the
same end.
The next session of Congress will be
the appropriate time to urge the bill,
especially since a bill for the preser-
walton of the New England forests is
also pending. Recent government
appropriations for improvements ii.
the East give the West an additional
claim. Besides. the forests influence
sections far away from those they ac-
tualIy overshadow. They are ma
lures rain guages. Their prcserva-
ton is imperative.
All the State will be with the Presi-
dent heart and soul, but we could not
but enter a plea of mot guilty to his
charge of laches on the part of North
Carolina in this regard, however
pleasantly and encouragingly he may
have put it.