The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-17
PRESERVE FORESTS
SUBJECT OF THEIR CARE AN Is5-
 PORTRAIT ONE.
Dr. Thomas N. wili, of washingten To Speak at Commercial Club, Fri- day Evening Uuon Topic Im-
 portnnt To South.

Intarest in the lecture of pr. Thomas E. Will on the preservation of forest ". which will be delivered under the auspices of the Commercial Club, Erie day evening. has grown remarkably and yesterday Acting Secretary F. P. Chaffee. Of the Commercial Club. re- ceived many queries as to the require ments for admission.
 There are no requirements for adrnis- sion; the lecture Is only one of a se- rtes of entertainments which the Com merciai Club will be sponsor for. 1t is one of free course intended not only to entertain but to educate. with the purpose of developing Montgomery and Alabama.
 pr. Will. who Is Secretary of the American Forestry Association, is one of the ablest opponents of forestry preservation in the United States. He has devoted years of his life to q study of thA subject. and his knowledge. at once theoretical and practical. must needs be of great benefit to Alabama.
 An official interested in tho work upon which Dr. Will will speak, said yesterday:
 "Cutting and burning the woods of the Southern mountains is causing floods and ,droughts. The floods sweep away fields. houses, railroads and faet- ories, cover fertile soils with sand, and i'll rivers and harbors with silt and rubbish. Congress annually appropri- ates millions for river and harbor im- provements, for digging out these de- pOsits and for raising the levees of the AIississlppi. only to find the evil rseur ring in more extreme form.
 aFrance sufrefed similarly After spending $15.000 .000. she has planned 10 spend $20.000,000 more in attempting to remedy imperfectiy the mischief l tat AA9nFAafn a ffnr Tn such cases .an ounce of prevention Is worth 2 ton of cure.
 'In destroying our forests. water powers. rivers, harbors and fields; we are undermining the basis of our na tionai wealth. We are squandering our birthright, wasting our heritage and Pebbing our children, The old world is strewn with wrecks of departed na- tions. One potent cause of their de- cav and death was the destruction of their resources. America should learn by their experience.
 ssThe problems involved in the Aps paiachian, question are interstate. The evils of denudation affect most serious ly distant communities and the nation itself. The States containing the for ests cannot be expected to reserve them for the benadt of other States: while States outside the forest area, but suffering from forest destruction, are powerless to help themselves. The question is therefore not State, bus National. Only by an Act of Congress can the Southern mountain forests ana the vast interests. public and prt vate, dependent thereupon be conserv. ed"
 President W, w. Finley. of the Southern Railway Company, in ad" dressing the Tennessee Banker5' Asso- citation at Lookout Mountain, June IS last. said:
 s.It is particularly important, I think. that attention should be given to the scientific management Of the forests of the South. In many other parts Of the country the forests were practically destroyed before the advantages or the intelligent management or wood land properties were fully understood.
 "The South is still rich Tn forest wealth, and other parts of the country. are looking more and more to this sec ton for their supplies of lumber and of all articles manufactured from wood If the forests of this section are to be of the greatest value, not only to this generation. but to future generations as we'll, 1t is essential that uniform system of forestry management shall be put into operation.
 '.For this reason, am in complete sympathy with the proposition to cre- ate the Appalachian forest reserve. believe that it's creation would result in the greatest possible present profit, consistent with their preservation, be- ing obtained from our Southern for ests."