The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-07

4
without any purpose to make odious
comparisons, it may be accepted as
true that the preservation of the
appalachian forest is the duty most
Immediately before us and on that
great work we may in large measure
concentrate our efforts.
There is no remote disposition to
minimize the Importance Of inland
, waterway improvement, but when
! We face the fact that VIC are indeed
securing waterway improvement at
the very fountain head when We take
the Appalachians in hand we get a
clearer idea Of the work which de-
manLs most immediate attention. It
IS not question as to which branch
Of the work is most important, but
which is most pressing NOW, and
the answer to that is, the Appala-
chian forest.
We can do. no better than present
! some Of the more salient facts in
connection with forest preservation.
The Appalachian range, extending
from north Georgia to New England,
contains stvcnty-kivc million acres Of
ground on which hard wood trees are
growing, on can be made TO grow as
aa agricultural crop.
1t is our only remaining source Of
hard w"od supply and at the pres
ent rate Of cutting will be exhausted
in sixteen years.
The AppalarhanS are the source
Of all ;hr important southern streams,
alI The forest covering is of vital
importance to ihcm in their supply
"T water and cvcnncsS Of flow.
1t is estimated that The south has
three million horse power in these
streams worth yearly. when develop
rl sixty millions dollars, meaning al
investment in the south Of three hun
drrd million dollars. saving fifteen 20
twenty million yearly on our coal
bill. We have but made Il beginning
in this development.
ALREADY rut and its effect is shown
in longer and more frequent and
more damaging Flood periods (ciyh-
teen million dollars damage in one
year in The south alone) and longer
lew water periods; in The summer
mnaths
This condition mas already cut
down our estimated power largely
ESTIMATED by forty per cent?, and
constitutes a serious and real menace
TO our water power and to the water
supply Of our cities and towns.
Our streams are rapidly filling
with sand. sill and dctritus, and navi-
cation Of our important streams
threatened.
Larger and more costly dredging
operations are yearly required to
keep our navigablc streams open and
il has been stated that the sums we
shall soon be compelled to spend year
~ on dredging, halbor works, Jet
tcrs. cts. will pay the entire cost of
tnr proposed national forest.
Forest pcrpctuation. under nation
ii forest laws, means "perpetuation
through uSr' Trees arc cut under
proper methods, planted and raised
under scientific direction and tha pro-
rrSrI lati"nal forest in the Appala-
rhans would mean not only perpc-
tual supply Of timber, but freedom
from most Of the evils that con-
tinnnnr' Of present methods must
inevitably bring upon us.
Forest rcrrHtuati"n is practical,
sane. profitable in actual returns on
tn" money invested, and the results
cannot be- questioned.
1t Is Of supreme Importance to the
entire south, and TO its support there
should be rallied the aggressive work
and aid of the whole south.
II is rf supreme Importance that
the bill now before congress should
b. passed ut this session; and if if
passed the senate at the last session.
! and was defeated in the house
largely through the indifference, or
the open opposition, Of our southern
! members.
The facts como home to us when
we are told that the canals at Au-
guSIa have filled up more during the
past eighteen months than for thirty
years before. The same is true Of all
our navigablc streams. All this is due