The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-12-23
WEST VIRGINIA
HOLDS THE KEY
TO the SITUATION. o.!
VERY IMPORTANT IN
FOREST ECONOMY.

q
West virginians should be, and no
doubt are, interested in the call Of
President Roosevelt to the governors
OF the several States, whom the chief.
executive has invited to be present,
with three delegates next May for the
purpose Of comforting with him and
develop plan for. the conservation OF
the nations vas: resources. Governor
Wm. NJ. o. Dawson. Congressman G.
C. Sturgiss, and other prominent men
of the State are interested In this
movement, and the former, along with
Governor Johnson, Of Minnesota, Gov
ernor Folk, Of Missouri, Deneen Of
Illinois. Warner. OF Michigan, and 9TH
ers. have responded to the call Of the
President, and have expressed their
approval OF the conference.
1t Is high time that the people of
West Virginia were fully alive to tiieS
relative Importance Of this State. with
her abundant resources. In the prog.
ress Of the nation. Particularly So
should West Virginia feel In respect
to the preservation OF her forests,
for according to the report Of the
Appalachian survey. West Virginia Is
the key to the situation, looking to-
ward the Improvement OF the great
Ohio valley with Its millions Of peo3
pie. r.
Governor Dawson, has received a let Z
ter from Hu Maxwell. the former ed
tor OF the Morgantown Chronicle, who
Is now in the forestry service at wash
Ington; relating to the preservation OF
our forests. as follows:
Washington. D. c.. Dec 1907. 4
Hon. VIM. NJ. o. Dawson.
Dear Governor Dawson: -I have
Just. finished the manuscript copy OF !
the report Of the Appalachian survey
made by the forest service. and which
will be delivered to the Senate In q 4
few days and will be published as q :
Senate document. While knew that {
West Virginia was important In the
forest economy Of the Appalachian re-
gion. had underestimated Its rela.a
tive Importance. It Is shown that with
forest protection. and with a series
Of reservoirs on the Monongahela and
practicable-water can be stored In
sufficient Quantities to maintain near
ly or quite a nine foot stage on the
Ohio all the way from Pittsburg down..
Flood water would be held back and
Il would flow of gradually. when need.
ed.
West Virginia has 1927, 900 acres
oi forest. or this area 5,797.493 acres
ought TO remain permanently In for-1
ests. If the government buys s, 900 900
acres as soon as possible (as will be-;
urgently recommendedl more OF 1t
will lie in West Virginia than any
other State. In fact West Virginia
seems to be the key to the situation.
This report Is not yet public. will (
sec to It that copy Is sent to yous
as soon as made public. II covers 95s
typewriter pages. 2
It is urged as one Of the chief rec
concentrations. that fullest coopera.
ton be had between the government
on one side and the State. corporations
and individuals on the other. At the
most the government will buy and
, protect only isolated tracts, ON the 4
highest mountains, where timber is
poorest. but where II is most needed.
The States are asked to cooperate by
passing and enforcing efficient fire
laws. and in helping to2educate the
people to take care Of their; own. Coz
operation with individual company
landowners will be sought In manag.s
Ing their timber lands and cutting
without destroying. 81
You know better than I whether
It would be best for this matter To,
be taken up at an extra session OF the
Legislature. II you call one. 1 know
that you are no less anxious than Z
to see It done, but an extra session
may not be the best time. II might;
not be given the consideration Il de-
serves and It is a thing that ought
to be done right, and done In earnest
! or not at all. The State board Of.
trade Of West Virginia provided for
committee, at It's Charleston meet.
Ing. to draft forestry law to be- SUBJ
mitted to the governor. i have never
heard whether the committee has
done anything. should like to see
your administration credited with q,
good forestry law for West Virginia.
hope that you reached home safely.
Very truly.
| HU MAXWELL.
1t can be readily seen from the
| tnua NJ Mr. MaYwa1irs 1aktn.Eah.ATt.-s