New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
ATLANTIC WATERSHED.
Waste of Forests the Cause of Dam
aging Floods.
from The Tribune Bureau. I

Washington Feb. 3.-Representatiye William
PalIister Hubbard of West Virginia. believes that
the recent floods in the Ohio River Valley. which
have paralyzed industries and caused great loss OF
property in that region, forcible argument
for the immediate establishment Of a national
forest in the Appalachian region MI
Hubbard is the author of the bill now pending be-
fore the Agricultural Committee of the House. the
constitutonaty OF which has been referred to the
Committee Judiciary for decision
Most of the advocates Of the bill regard this move
as made by the House leaders in the interests OF
economy and solely for the purpose Of preventing
legislation along that line at the present session
of Congress by causing delay They believe that
the Judiciary Committee will make no report on
question until late in the session as TO make
an affirmative action on the measure impossible
Mr. Hubbard. however. believes that the reference
was made in good faith and that the question VIII
be decided in future. He points % the act
that a hearing the question has been set Tor
February y a evidence Of the desire OF the
committee to give early consideration II sucn
is the case he thinks that the bill viii undoubtedly
receive a favorable report from the Committee on
Agriculture and it is well known that 1t can COM
nand an overwhelming majority in the House
Although he is a member Mr- Hubbard has
made many friends for the bill by his calm rnethod
of pushing il and with the strong sentiment
throughout the country in favor Of II ne mas no
fears for its passage on its merits RePresentatiNe
Scott, Of Kansas. chairman Of the Committee on
Agriculture has not yet expressed himself on the
measure feeling that as he has sit in judgment
on the bill it would be best for him 70 say nothing
at present. He is known, however, TO be close
student Of forestry conditions. fully alive 70 the
great of trees, and those favoring the Dill DO
not anticipate any opposition from him
Mr. Hubbard said: Il can conceive of no stronger
reason for immediate action on the Appalachian
and White Mountain forest reserve bill than that
it will be the means of saving millions Of dollars
70 the people of the East every year Tf.e recent
food in the Ohio Valley Is case in point soon It
will be late for a replanung OF the forests
Fires. dead stumpage and the enervatnS eHects OF
running water will impoverish the soil as 70
make the growth of trees impossible In the inter
est of agriculture, power and navigation. 1t
is necessary that this bill be passed and IL WIZ.
think. be ultimately passed for the demand for II
will become 50 great that Congress VII see rs
many good points.
THE Appalachian mountain region is the Prin-
cipa1 source which the nation can be sup
Piled with hard wood. and II the forests on these
mountains are preserved. then in a short tr1s
ali the industries of the country which use haro
wood must fail It has been estimated that the
bard wood supply in this country Will not last more
than twenty years at the present rate OF eXhaus-
ton. which shows evidence of dlnlnutlon- some
steps must be taken preserve the forests for the
persons who depend for their livelihood On the
products of the forests. Then. too. there is the
ever present menace of forest fires, when every
year ruin millions of young trees Insects Kill mum
dreds other and will continue 10 10 50 as
long the government hesItates 10 90 tlat WHICH
IS apparently necessary
The mountains the distributors of water
power. they are absolutely essential TO navigation.
and either of these reasons is sufficient to induce
Congress to provide that the distribution OF water
be unhndered and the mountains cleared OF i'm
nedinc debris. The flow Of the streams must oe
enuaIized and the mountains must act as the nat
,raI eouaIizers The sooner these things are done
the better it will for the country at large ana
the cheaper for the government, every year tnar
the purchase the necessary mountain land Is de-
ferred means an increased cost of reclamation
..The other benefits be derived from the erea-
tioY, of forest reserve are many. and the scheme
Is the most popular now before Congress II has
thousands of Endorsements from every part OF the
has the unqualified approval OF tho President ami
of Clifford Pinchot. chief forester. To farming ana
fr1rit growing the reserve could not fail 70 give
material stimulus: the local residents of the region
should have no objection TO 1t, for ii would pro-
tect the farmer and the Iaborer besides improving
the opportunitles for work. Better roads would -
suIt more planting could be done, more bridges
co,,1d he constructed and the effects other hn&s
would be such that the whole country would reap
a substantial beneficial this "A most reasonable
cost to the government for after the first outlay
the forests would prove of little burden TO the IA
tlonaI treasury
..AS to the conStitutionaltty of the project haNs
No doubt There n law against II. and nothing
that can in fairness be construed A law. IL -
for Congress TO decide whether it cares 70 make
the outlay or not.