The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-12-11


most Immediately effective and q
which we should look for the reform
Of abuses
Forests.
II there IS any one duty which NOR
than another we owe IL 10 our children
and our children's children to perforr
at once IL is to save the forests OF
this country. for they constitute I'll.
first and most important element e.
the Conservation Of the natural re
sources Of the country.
ShOrtsighted persons. or persons
blinded to the future by desire {,
make money in every way out of thu
present. sometimes speak as II 10
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction of our forests. II
Is difficult to have patience with the
arguments Of these persons. Thanks
10 our own recklessness in the use IS
our splendid forests, we have already
crossed the verge Of a timber famine
IN this country, and no measures that
we now take can. at least for many
years, undo the mischief that has al
ready been done But we can prevent
further mischief being done and ii
would be In the highest degree repre-
henslble to let any consideration q
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action, espe-
cially as regards the national forests.
which the nation can now at this very
moment control
1.-THE president here cites In support
of his contentious the great destruc-
ton wrought in China by the denuda-
ton Of the forest areas.
What has thus happened In northern
China, what has happened in central
Asia, in Palestine, in north Africa, in
parts of the Mediterranean cOuntries
Of Europe, will surely happen In our
country If we do not exercise that
wise forethought which should be one
Of the chief marks Of any people call
ing itself civilized. Nothing should be 8
permitted to stand in the way of the
preservation of the forests, and it is
criminal to permit individuals to pur-
chase a little gain for themselves
through the destruction of forests
when this destruction is fatal to the
well being of the whole country IN the
future.
inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith
during the present session of congress,
for the Improvement of our inland wa
which will result in
giving us not only navigable but
rivers. We paTy4 spent
hundreds Of millions of dollars upou
these waterways, yet the traffic on
nearly all Of them is steadily decliB-
ing. This condition Is the direct re
suit of the absence of any compre-
lensive and farseeing plan of water
way improvement. Obviously we can
lot continue thus to expend the rev
,nues of the government without re-
urn. 1t is poor business to spend s
money for inland navigation unless
We get It. '
Such shortsighted, vacillating ami
utfle methods are accompanied by de 7
reasing water borne commerce ana II
Increasing traffic congestion on land I
Y increasing foods and by the waste
public money. The remedy lies In
the methods which have
D signally failed and adopting new O
mes in keeping with the needs ana T
emands of our people. 81
In a report on a measure Introduce Il
the first session of the present cor d.
ress the secretary Of war said, THE CT
lief defect in the methods hitherto n.
1rsued lies in the absence of execH tt
We authority for originating compre- d,
ensive plans covering the country or
atural divisions thereof" In this
Union heartily concur OF
Until the work Of river Improvement b.
undertaken in modern way 1t can In
1t have results that will meet the Ia
,eds of this modern nation. These nj
,eds should be met without further his
lly-dallying or delay. The plan which W
omises the best and quickest results he
that of permanent commission au- bf
OriZed to coordinate the work of all
e government departments relating /
waterways and to frame and super
sc the execution Of a comprehensive Sc
an. The time for playing with our pu
aterways is past. The country de- nc
ands results. OF
National Parks. ~
urge that all our national parks ad-
cent to national forests be placed -.
implicitly under the, control of the 49,
rest service Of the agricultural de-
rtment, instead Of leaving them. as !
ey are now, under the interior de- int
rtment and policed by the army. en-
Pure Food.
The pure food legislation has already -
rked a benefit difficult to overest-
To. ' -
Secret Service. -
asst year an amendment was incor- A.,
'ated In the measure providing for az
secret service which provided that tho
ne should be no detail from the Sc ~,
{ service and no transfer therefrom 49,
To nj kO0 k0 ~