Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-10
MUST SAVE FORESTS
Conservation Commission
Hears Urgent Pleas.
ANDREW CARNEGIE SPEAKS
Senator Edwards Of Canada Also
Delivers Address.
GOV. JOHNSON WANTS IDEAS
Reed Smoot Of Utah Serves as
Chairman Of Session-oemmis-
sioner Whipple's Views.
ANDREW CARNEGIE SPEAKS
GOV. JOHNSON WANTS IDEA

The need of saving the forests OF the
United States and to some extent the
methods to be followed in so doing we're
discussed at the session of the conserva-
ton commission in the Willard Hotel this
morning. Andrew Carnegie delivered an
| address. There was also a speech from
Senator c. W. Edwards Of Canada. Gov.
Johnson of Minnesota and State Forest
Commissioner Whipple Of New York al
most tore each other up, not because OF
divergence OF views, but because Gov.
Johnson was anxious to get hold of con-
crete ideas on forestry to carry home with
I him.
Senator Smoot of Utah was the chair
man of the session. He was introduced
by Clifford Pinchot, the chief forester
Senator Smoot read the report of the sec
! ton on forestry, mentioning q number OF
salient facts regarding the forest situa-
| ton. He said that there were three points
| to be borne in mind. The destruction OF
| the forests has reached a point where 1t
is grave and urgent subject. The prop.
| lem could be solved, it was added. should
but that delay might render 1t difficult
| Of solution or leave it in such shape that
| 1t could never be solved.
Forest Land Remaining.
| The speaker remarked that originally
one-half the area Of the United States
was forested. This area has. shrunk to
! one-fourth. OF the forest land remaining
only one-fifth is in the public domain.
Four-fifths are in private hands. The
| reproduction Of the forests annually is
1000, 600 600 cubic feet, but 21.OO0. OOO-
600 cubic feet Is cut annually. More
destructive even than the inroAds of lun-
| bermen is the loss through insects, pests
and fires. Forest fires annually destroy
fifty lives. The entire loss could be
| checked by expenditure of $1,00OO0O an
nually on a proper fire patrol.
Senator Smoot pointed out In the line
! Of economy that this country spends mill
| lions annually on river and harbor work
| OF the streams were properly forested as
q protection.
Visitor From Canada Speaks.
Senator Edwards Of Canada. who was a
guest of the commission. spoke interest
ingly Of the extent Of the Canadian for
| eats and the need Of Canada to preserve
them. He said that in talking with the
governor general before leaving he had
only two things impressed on him: One
| was to back up anything that Clifford
Pinchot favors, because they have great
faith in his ability as a forester, and the
other is to urge the United States to take
precaution against the railroads as start
to see the United States take action so
that Canada could use it as leverage for
| similar protective LEGISLATION.
Although he is lumbermAn. Senator
Edwards added. he Is great Deliver In
forests and a great substitute for wood
in building. He said he had put up two
big steel and cement buildings himself
this year to save lumber. He also said
he felt the deepest respect and admiration
for Mr.. Carnegie because, by the introduc-
ton Of structural steel, he had been such
an important factor in saving the forests.
Mr.. Carnegie, who was sitting near the
platform. actually grinned at this tribute.
Views Of Andrew Carnegie.
Mr. Pinchot called on Mr.. Carnegie for
an address because, he remarked, ne
knew that was the only way to get him
forward.
Mr. Carnegie said that, to his mind, one
Of the greatest obstacles to general and
effective conservation is the line of de-
marcation between state and federal au-
thority, and he does not think the most
ardent states rights man should object
to the federal government stepping In
and doing anything within the state Dor
ders that might be necessary in the line
Of conservation.
In this connection, he remarked. when
Congress. there was q great turmoil over
the constitutionality Of spending money
by. the federal government over state
waterways Representative Ritter Of
Pennsylvania, who was an old man and
had never before spoken in the chamber.
arose and made the brief but pointed
statement that he did not know much
about the Constitution, but he would not
think much Of q Constitution that would
not wash as we'll In fresh water as 1t did
in salt. That speech, Mr.. Carnegie said.
did much to pass the initial bill. and he
hoped that the federal government would
bear the incident In mind He added that
every man Is proud Of his own state, but
that It is greater to be an American than
a resident Of any one Of the states
Referring to Canada. Mr. Carnegie ex-
pressed the belief that Its ultimate des
tiny Is to annex the United States. the
way Scotland annexed its great southern
nelghbor. England.
Education Of the People.
Commissioner .Whipple Of New York
spoke OF the need OF forest conservation
and OF educating the people in forestry. so
as to save this country from the fate
Of deforestation that befell China and
fate that had cost France $500 600, 600
to avert.
Gov. Johnson of Minnesota jumped to
his feet with q question. He said he
would be eternally grateful II Mr.. Whipple
would give him q single practical sugxes-
ton he could carry home for his state
to put into practice.
Mr.. Whipple replied that he would sug-
gest doing as New York 10 doinE-start
tree gardens all over the state. give the
trees away to the farmers and plant
trees, then plant some more trees and
then keep on planting trees. He said
that the hardwood trees would reseed
themselves and come up from shoots but
that the conifers had to be planted and
that the waste sandy lands OF Minnesota
were just the place to grow that sort Of
timber.
The program FOR this afternoon is the
reading Of the report on waters. the Sec
ton Of which Theodore Burton il chair
man.
Senator Newlands a Speaker.
Senator Newiands Of Nevada. who has
been one OF the most active advocates of
reclamation and a student Of railroad and
economic problems. spoke Of the need Of
continuing the conservation commission
as a permanent body with appropriations
and means for working. It may not be
generally recognized, but the commission
up to date has gone along with the work
in hand without q regular fund to work
from, and much that has been accom-
plished has been incidental to other gov
eminent work that the members have had
in hand, and some of it has even been