Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-14

How shall we cooperate with nature In
rendering conditions still more serviceable
TO ourselves and our successors. and IN
ansuer,n9 it he said that it is clear we
NAV use the proper revenues OF our IN
bar,tance but that we should not rob our
successors of their share in 1t. he turn
cd IN the basal factors RAINFALL soil
formation and soil-wastage' anu say
that. while rainfall and soil are 10 oe
| regarded as Inherited assets. ana even a
| little soil-removal may be regarded as an
! advantage. reckless soil-wastage Is
serious error.
He pointed to the fact that water may
| rush away as a foul erOsive flood on the
surface. wasting soil and plant food. gull
wing the surface flooding the valleys.
| filling the reservoirs, sweeping out cams
ba ring the streams and clogging the DEL
tas. And this thought he USED as the
basis for the statement that: me loeai
solution of the soil problem may there
fore solve the greater part OF the Whole
complex of problems.
Control Of the Water Fall.
"From a study of soils 1t becomes evil
dent that we must control the water
which falls upon the EARTH. Or. Cnam-
beralin continued. THE water fall Is an
asset of great possible value; saved II
turned where it will do good. lost If per-
mitted to run away, doubly lost II II
carries away also the soil.
..It is possible that some OF the radlcal
and permanent remedies will be FOUND Dy
a closer study of natures methods. Ma
ture has been working at TINS complex
problem of balance between soil lorna
ton, soil waste, surface slope, plant
growth and stream development, for mil
lions of years. Looking closely at her
methods we note that she uses much
larger variety of plants to cover and pro-
tect the soil than we do.
Surely much can be done by using GER
tain plants as fall. winter and spring
crops to cover the soil when specially ex-
posed to wastage. These and similar de-
vices may be used to reduce the bare sur
faces SO much developed by present
modes of a cultivation and may make 1t
possible to cover permanently by profit
| able protecting crops the slopes where
| surface wash is most menacing.
THE pitiable struggles of certain ori-
entail peoples to retain and cultivate tine
scant remnants of once ample soils is
| both an example and a warning. Our es-
cane from such struggle should spring
| from a longer forevison. a deeper insight.
greater skill and interchangeable industry
prof. Chamberlain did not have an OPP
| nortunity to complete his address. His
| naper was of such a lengthy character
that the gong announcing the expiration
| of his time was rung twice.
Gov Johnson then motfOned Prof.
recognized r. A. Long of Kansas City. as
| the next speaker. A number of the dele
| gates asked that Prof. Chamberlain be
| allowed to complete his speech. but it was
agreed that the program should be fully
complied with and that the speakers be
| limited as to time.
r. A. Long on Forests.
| r. A. Long, prominent lumberman OF
Kansas City, who spoke on the subject OF
"Forests," placed particular emphasi:
| ,1non the statement that conservation an1
perpetuation of forests and unremunera
tive prices for lumber cannot travel the
same road.
"Perpetuation of forests means to Sc
| exploit the forests as to make them con.
tinuous and perpetual" he said. "anc
this can only be done by spending money
continuously in planting, seeding and pro
tecting. Low prices of any commodit,
lumber included-mean neglect ane
| waste. This cannot be more forciby IL
Illustrated than by the conditlons existing
today, as applied to lumber. On account
Of the low prices the logs making low
grade lumber, secured principally from
| that portion Of the tree approaching the
limbs. and constituting at least ~ PEI
! cent Of the forests, are left In the wood:
| to rot or burn.
ION account Of such conditions 1t viii
be found difficult. If not impossible. t
get the timber owner to enter activel.
into the methods required for the perpet
uation of the forests by spending ever
the minimum required.
Proposed Solution.
The speaker said that a solution might
be found for the problem by having the
government pursue course somewhat as
follows:
First. enter into a contractual rela-
numbering operations are not being car
ried on (who constitute at least 80 per
cent OF the timber holders In the United
States) and by the contracts provide
that conservation and reforestation
should be practiced under rules pre-