The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-07
THE APPALACHIAN FOREST
RESERVE.

tant forests by the creation OF ma
.tional forest reserves.
The South and the East are low
asking that the general government
shall do for these sections, though on
a smaller scale, what it has done for
the West and the Pacific slope and
in the Rockies, where l50,OOO,OOO
acres Of national forest reserve have
been established with the minimum
of restriction and the maximum OF
privilege to the people whose homes
are in or adjacent to the territory
affected.
Congress is asked to establish here
the Appalachian forest reserve,
comprising approximately 75,OOo,0Oo
acres on the Atlantic slope, exte1d-
ing from the New England states on
the north, we'll into Georgia and Ala
bama on the south.
Government officials OF the agrlcul-
tural department, dealing with the
. subject Of forestry, have written vol
umes upon the Importance and the
necessity of federal action in the d.
reetion Of preserving the eastern for
ests. Bodies Of engineers who, like
the Atlanta section Of the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers,
have studied the subject individually
and collectively, have passed resolu-
tions urging early congressional ac-
ton as a matter in which delay
means national loss.
We're it solely a matter Of the pre-
se1vation Of the forest woods, per-
haps little would nave been heard OF
the forest reserve proposition. But
as has been clearlys demonstrated
vastly more is involved. It is a ques-
tioa Of the life and vitality Of mil
lions of acres Of valuable aerlcultur-
al lands. which depend upon the
proper distribution Of moisture such
as can be effected only by the forest.
Il is a question of the preservation
Of the sources Of the important nav
ieable streams Of the Atlantic slope
and of the eastern gulf; likewise OF
the valuable waterpowers through
out the south and east. development
cf which has only just begun.
It is estimated that deforestatlon
has already caused loss in this Sec
ton. principally in the erosion or
washing away of. farm lands, Of more
than slO,OOO,OO0. That is but be-
ginning. France counted up her loss
in millions before she acted, and
then found the work of restoration a
long, tedious and expensive process
Opportunity now confronts the 1a-
tional government to take hold OF
the situation almost in the begin
ming Of the destruction. But 1t is a
destruction that promises to be swift
and sure and complete unless early
action is taken.
It is more than a passing, it IS a
national and patriotic duty OF the
representatives in congress from the
south and east to get solidly back OF
tais movement and demand Favorable
action by that body. They have it
within their power by united and de-
termined action, particularly at a
+ima when there is 10 possibility Of
making the plea Of national poverty,
to secure this important legislation,
and they cannot afford to let 1t go
by default.
With so much OF our national tl1-
ure depending upon this action, de-
,,y in the establishment of the Ap-
palachian national forest reserve
must be considered as more than ex-
FRA Observation-Disclosures Constitg-
ton.
We have never been able to under
stand just why it should be neces-
sarv that the people should have to
rise en- masse, as it were, and petl-
ton our representatives in congress
to enact some legislation which would
preserve our forests.
We have always taken 1t for grant
ed that our congressman were at least
as intelligent and as patriotic as the
average citizen and We doubt it you
could find citizen anywhere IN this
country who would not endorse al
most any proposition looking to the
preservation Of our forests.
1t seems. however, that our con-
gressmen do not view the situation
in this light, or if they do they are
indifferent to its Importance and II
is. therefore, necessary that the peo