The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-05
PLEA FOR FORESTS New Haven Delegate Expresses States Sentiments at
 Washington.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
Three Hundred Representatives of Manufacturing Interests Push
 Forest Preservation Bill.

An enthusiastic meeting was held recently in Washington before the house committee on agriculture in support of the bill on the conservation of the forest resources of the country. Delegates representing Connecticut and twenty other states were present, an assembly of nearly three hundred, to urge upon the committee the posi- tive necessity for some action by con gress in the near future. The gover- nors of many states were in attend ance and representatives of the great manufacturing interests throughout the country, The movement relates especially to the New England and southern regions
 c. S De Forest one of the delegates from Connecticut appointed by Cover nor Woodruff recently, addressed the meeting in behalf of that section. His address, which was necessarily brief, was in part as follows:
 MT Chairman and Gentlemen of the Agricultural Committee: l am here as one of the Connecticut delegates appointed by Governor Woodruff, and also as a delegate from the Chamber of Commerce of New Haven, to make brief plea in favor of this bill We or Connecticut are profoundly im- pressed with the importance of con serving and developing what remains of the forest resources in the southern and eastern sections of our country, and with the necessity for immediate action upon these lines.
 During the past four or five years we have been asking congress to grant this measure, a mass of testimony and argument has been accumulated in its favor we'll nigh overwhelming, all of which is now gathered up and round ed out by the masterly and conclusive special report of the secretary of agri- culture made to this SiXtieth congress. It does not seem to be assuming too much to say that the arguments are all in they arc irrefutahle: urgent, The only thing that can be added now is that the longer this matter Is post poned the more irreparable the dam age becomes and the greater and more costly the undertaking when it is once naugurated-and sooner or later inaugurated it must be It cannot as a national policy be postponed long It is inevitable, and as settled policy of the government will in time be found to be as supremely important as that of river and harbor oversight.
 We are convinced that it can only be solved by the cooperative action of both federal and state governments, and by that of the owners of the forest lands. The present bill is wise and practical because it hespeaks such | united action. Briefly summarized this is the solid and sober verdict of Con necticut
 The state of Connecticut by resolu- ton In its last general assembly has already unanimously indorsed its pro visions. Ex-Governor Henry Roberts and Governor Rolin $. Woodruff have repeatedly urged such action. The Chambers of Commerce and boards of trade in all of our leading cities. not only of my state but of New England, have done likewise: 8 large portion of the influential newspapers of New England have favored it again and again
 You are also familiar with the fav- orable action of the Connecticut River Transportation companies. and also of the State Lumbermen's Association of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Con necticut, and many other associations. New England Is actively and solidly arrayed on the side of this legislation We have yet to discover one iota of opposition
 May I call your attention 10 the Century Magazine for February wherein you will find the testimony of all of the governors of the New Eng land, Middle and southern states unit ing in one powerful plea for favora ble congressional action upon this great question, and if must he remembered that these chief executives represent the opinions of the people in their re- spective states. We earnestly appeal to you. therefore, gentlemen. for a speedy and favorable report