Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-12-03
THE FOREST RESERVE HEAR
ING.

THE FOREST RESERVE HEAR
ING.
On Monday OF next " ok tn
house committee on agriculture W l.
give a hearing to tac-e who aye
n,eres III I'm the passage OF the
Appalach an Tor st re erve bill. aud
it is hoped that the attendance up-
on this hearing v II be as large as
the importance OF the quest on d e.
serves
II VIII be recalled tha i'd ntical
bi Is were introduced in the house
and senate at the last session Of
congress, authoriz ng an appropra-
ton o. five III lion dollars for the
Purchase OF five million acres Of
forest lands In thp Appalachian5.
The house bill died in committee.
but one OF the senate bills was pass
ed. towards the close OF the So on
and going then to the house con-
m ttee on agricu' ture did no. see
the ght again.
1t S pointed out that II the house
committee can de induced to report
he bill to the house, so that 1t can
be debated. it stands an excellent
chance OF being enacted into law.
for a careful poll OF the pres mt
house shows that the bill, which
has the cordial support OF the en-
t re country. wiz pass by large
major ty.
The Appalachian National Forest
assoc alton is not bound up with
any special bill. 1t realizes that a
start must be made, and will sup
port any assure which makes a
start towards the end desired
The association expla MS chat a
large impetus has been given to the
cause OF forest perpetuation along
these broad lines by the conserva-
ton movement which had its in
spiration in the governors confer
ence in May last. The national
conservat on commission appointed
| by the president as the result of
that conference has been engaged
for months in a study OF the resour-
ces and of all the questions involv-
ed in their wise utilization. It's early
report must be an authoritative ut
terance. II this report fixes the
crest question as Of first impor-
lance becamEe of the.r rapid de
structiOn and their early complete
exhaustion, il will arouse a demand
Tor their preservation that CON
gress must heed-and this demand
must naffIe the Appalachian
White mountain region first.
Whether the conservation com
mission does this or not, condi-
lions are such as demand that there
be no let up in the earnest and
hard work OF the unselfish men and
women OF the nation who are urg-
Ing national action in this impor-
tant matter, and legislation bearing
on it should continue to receive 10y
al and earnest support.
The agricultural committee OF
the house proposes 20 grant a pub
lie hearing on the senate bill on
December 9 in Washington. There
will be in session in Washington
on December 7 and the Southern
Commercial congress, representing
the commercial voice of the entire
south. There will be in session
there on the Sth the governors and
| their advisors, in conference with
the pres dent and the national CON
sentative commission. There will
be in session there on the 9th.
10Th and 18th, the great National
Rivers and Harbors congress-and
every man in attendance upon them.
who is alive to the conservation
dea, should be in attendance on
this hearing and make his influence
felt before the committee.
Furthermore, every civic. every
chamber OF commerce or similar
body, every woman's club in every
southern city, should, prior to De-
cember g. pass ringing resolutions
demanding this legislat on and see
that the Appalachian National For
st association in Washington gets
them in sine to use them at the
hearing on December 8.