Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-19
SAVING THE FORESTS
ADDRESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARY BY
PROF T. E. WILLIS.

Prof Thomas E. Wills, secretary of the
American Forestry Association, delivered
an address at the Public Library last
evening on Saving the Forests" He
stated that American forests are being de-
stroyed as We're the buffalo and in more
recent years. supplies of native gas and
oil. The speaker predicted that unless
drastic steps are taken to prevent the de-
struction. the forests of this country will
are disappearing.
Second only to agriculture as resource
in the United States is the forest" DR..
Wills said From cradle to grave we con-
stantly draw upon it's products. We con-
sumo each year enough lumber to floor the
state of Delaware, enough shingles to
shingle the District of Columbia, enough
laths to load a train extending from Chi
cago to Memphis, enough fuel to make
wood pile one-half mile long, wide and
high, and enough cooperase stock to build
a rick four feet high, four feet wide and
400 miles long, and enough railroad ties
to build road around the world and back
across the Atlantic. The value of wood
products annually consumed would suffice
to meet the appropriations of billion
dollar Congress.
Enemies of the Forest.
among the enemies of the forest are
wind, insects, stock which destroy the small
timber regions, the lumbermen and, worst
of all, fire. To the ravages due to forest
fires We are strangely oblivious; but the
increasing price of all wood products-a
movement but fairly begun-is compelling
our attention.
"A vitality important aspect of the forest
question is the connection between wood
and water. The effect of rainfall upon
heavily timbered regions is widely different
from that of rainfall upon bare ground.
Tn hn hr &c nlynr,
and the drops fall gently to the ground.
Tney sink into the forest mulch which, like
a sponge, absorbs them Through this the
water percOlateS slowly, to be absorbed by
the open. porous soil of the woodland, and
then carried, by the underground circula-
ton, to the springs at the bases of the
hills and mountains from which it feeds
the brooks and rivers. Rivers thus sup
piled maintain comparatively equal vol
ume the year round to the great advantage
of agriculture, commerce. manufactures and
all other interests involved.
Rain, however. falling upon a slope or
mountain side from which the forest has
been removed by ak and fire. rushes madly
to the streams, carrying with it silt. sand
gravel, boulders and debris. destroying
agricultural lands by washing away their
soils or by burying them in sands; and
railroads within their reach. The rainfall
is thus transformed from blessing to a
curse. To prevent such conditions we must
save the forest.
Work of the Service.
DR.. Wills lecture was devoted entirely to
the southern Appalachian and White noun
tains. and he explained the duties of the
forest service which exists. he said to save
and extend the forests of the United States
This service, the speaker pointed out, be-
| lieves in the policy of national forests.
Such were authorized in 1891. and since
then. successive Presidents have proclaimed
reserves on the public domain until the
national forest area now equals the area of
New York. New England. Pennsylvania.
New Jersey. Delaware. Maryland, Virginia,
and one-half of West Virginia.
| DR.. Wills concluded by saying that "the
forest service also gladly co-operates with
private forest owners. large and small. 1t
teaches them how to preserve their private
holdings and make them pay. In the tree
less region 1t encourages tree planting
This 1t does first. by example.
1.-The American Forestry Association
exists te promote the saving of our forests
by wise use. 1t has a membership of
nearly 5000. 1t is working especially to
secure the establishment of national forests
in the southern Appalachians and White
mountains"