The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-19
CONSERVATION OF FORESTS Dr. Will Gives Interest ing Talk. AXE AND FIRE DESTROY TREES Sources of Water Supply Included
 in the Question. Famine in Wood. Lack of Manufactur- ing Power, and Floods Threatened
 With Depletion of the Forest
 Area.

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 One of the series of entertainments arranged by the Commercial Club was given at the club rooms last night, when Dr. Thomas F.. Will. Secretary of the American Forestry Association, de- lighted small audience with a lecture on the value of the American forests, and the necessity for their preserva- tion
 President Forbes. of the Commercial Club. presided. In the beginning he stated the object of the meeting, dwell- subject to be discussed. He then in- troduced Hon. J. A Wilkinson. Agri- cultural Commissioner of Alabama. Mir. Wilkinson spoke interestingly of what the State Is doing and what fl intends doing towards educating the people on the value off the forests and knowledge of the adaptability of soils, He urged the protection of the forests and spoke of the needs for Forestry Department.
 Prof. J. r. Duggar. director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. fol- lowed Mr. Wilkinson. and introduced Dr. Will. Mir. Duggar said that the for ests of Alabama share with her fields and mines the credit of being the three principal resources Of a land richly en- dowed by nature but not well conserv- ed by man.
 Experts tell us." said Mir. Duggar, "that as nation we are consuming the timber of our forests three times as fast as nature is replacing it by growth. Some authorities think that even within fifteen years at the pres ent rate. all the extensive forests east of the Mississippt River will have melted into lumber--and into smoke"
 Ur. WiIl Speaks.
 R-IF illustrated by slides, which, unfortu- nateiy, were hardly visible. The lect- ure itself. however. was exceedingly in- teresting, He spoke especially upon the Appalachian forest reserve. which he referred to as the richest and most valuable of America. and that their de- struction would be national calamity. He said. in part;
 These forests are disappearing be- fore axe and fire at an alarming rate. A famine in wood, second in serious ness only to famine fin food, Is almost upon US. But the question of wood is outranked in importance by the ques- 4ion of water. Almost all the streams of the South, east of the Mississippi, rise in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and npon these depend in- dustries. notably manufacturing of vast and annually increasing importance. Much of this manufacture is done by electric power generated from water power.
 "The success of ,manufacturing de- pends directly or indirectly upon water power and requires equable stream flow This, in large measure. is insured by the presence of forests upon mountain slopes. The forest mulch collects the rain water and passes it tagradually in- to the underground circulation through which by springs and brooks 1t gradual ly feeds the rivers Cutting the for ests removes this conservative infiu- ence and precipitates the. water sud denly into the streams. filling them with debris and causing destructive floods.
 ready attained serious proportions, 31s.000,00O worth of property having been destroyed in a single year A mere beginning. however, has as yet been made.
 'aThe problem can be solved. Govern ment abroad and at home, is solving it by establishing national forests. Tho object of these is not to hold woods out of use as game preserves for tho rich; but so to handle the forests that they may render the highest use to the entire community. Wood that is ht to be cut is freely cut under govern. ment supervision; but the young growth is preserved for the renewal of the forest: grazing is carefully regu- lated lest the young trees be killed and fires are prevented or promptly ex. tinguished. As on a we'll kept farm crops of grain are successively raised so on the forest land successive crops of wood are produced; the forest, as such, meanwhile. not deteriorating hut constantly enhancing in value and ser- viceableness to the community"
 Dr. will also told of what is being done by the National Forest Service towards conserving the forest areas. He closed his remarks with the hope that the States seeking to preserve the for ests.
 Resolution by Mfr. Lanier.
 c. A. Lanier introduced the follow ing resolution, which was unanimously passed:
 ''Whereas, the manufacturing indus try of the South, largely dependent, di- rectly or indirectly, upon water power derived from streams rising in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Is threatened by the destruction of Ap- palachian mountain forests, and
 "Whereas, the rapid disappearance of American hardwoods renders the con- servation of Southern forests na- tional necessity; and
 whereas, the pdSSdSS Ol lilb Appd~ lachian- White mountain bill Is a first and essential step toward the conser- vation of these forests, and the vast wide spread interest dependent upon them; and
 "Whereas, this legislation appropri- ately supplements that whereby na- tionaI forests have been established in the West is demanded with practical unanimity by New England and the South, by a multitude of organizations national in scope, and by the press of the country, was almost passed by the last Congress, and Is openly opposed in practically no quarter; therefore
 Resolved, that we demand of our United States senators and representa- lives redoubled activity to the end that this bill may be enacted Into a law at the coming session of Congress.
 "Be it further resolved, that we com mend Governor B, B. Conner for sug- gesting action during the coming spe- cial session of the Legislature of Ala bama on the subject of forest preserva- tion. and we recommend the careful consideration of the matter by the members of the Legislature and the massage of such laws as they deem wise and commensurate with the important matter"
 J. H. West, who operated the stereepticon, was voted the thanks of the club.
 HEAVY SEAS REPORTED.
 SauIt Ste Marie. Mich. Oct, 1S-Snow