Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-12
LECTURE ON FORESTRY.


a lecture Thursday evening in the
opera house before large representa-
tive body of our citizens. G. ID. Jones
presided as chairman and introduced
the speaker. During his remarks stere
opticon views were thrown on canvas
illustrative of the lecture. DIR. Will il
q highly entertaining speaker and was
given The closest attention by his
audience. The subject was a new one
to great many people and presented
new thoughts to ones who have given
it but passing attention.
The speaker pointed out the fact that
the country has been so denuded of its
forests by the destruction of man and
fire that the only valuable forests left
in the East at the present time are
those in the Appalachian and White
mountains. Even these are being
cleared away and will soon have dis
appeared unless steps are taken by the
government to preserve them They
are also falling into the hands of rich
men who hold them for game preserves
alone, to the detriment of every other
| interest.
Not only is it necessary for the
government to preserve its forests for
the wood supply, but there are
other interests which must be taken
into consideration. The main one of
these is the power for the manufactur-
ing interests of the future. By the
preservation of forests the flow of
water in streams winding through
them is kept at a more even stage.
Water power is required to generate
electric power to operate manufacture
ing institutions and thus it is important
that the former should be regulated
Where land is cleared of its forest
growth water runs into streams quickly
and causes floods, whereas in forest
countries the humus formed of drop
ping leaves, ETC., gather up the rain
and allows it to gradually work into
the streams, thus producing a flow of
water varying but little the year around
The American Forest association has
its headquarters in Washington, D. G..
1t is supported by its members alone,
who number about G, 400. The associa-
ton has for its main purpose the agita-
tion for forest preservation, to work up
a keener and more widespread interest
that will result in steps being taken to
establish forest preserves throughout
the country. Anyone may become a
member of the association by paying
the membership fee and dues.
Following the close of the address
Hon. Neal Brown arose in one of the
boxes and addressing his remarks to
the chairman as well as the audience,
said he was pleased with the address
and believed that everyone else in the
house shared in this pleasure. He hsi
set of resolutions, he said, which be
would like to read. they being as fol-
lows
WHEREAS, the timber supply of the
United States is being consumed and
oOolAOJCu hb dH CuOi IdIc, IOTB-
shadowing famine in wood and wood
products, and,
WHEREAS in the East and South all
the important streams find their sources
in water sheds now being deforested,
and,
WHEREAS, the destruction of those
forests must lead to an alienation of
floods and droughts, reducing the value
of the streams for navigation and for
water power purposes, and,
WHEREAS, experience at home and
abroad proves that the solution of the
problem of the forest and stream is
found in public ownership of forest
areas, notably those controlling stream
flows; therefore.
BE 1t Resolved, that congress at its
coming session enact the Appalachian
bill, providing for the establishment of
national forests on the White and south
ern Appalachian mountains.
The chairman, Mr. Jones, called for
ays and nays, in voicing the sentiment
of the audience regarding the resolu-
tions and they were adopted unan-
imously.