The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-09

a hraef Statement Concerning the
fro1Dscd Appalachian White Noun
tab EOrcss Reserve.

toreH areas In the Southern Appaia-
chiaa and White Mountain regions.
apd their creation into a National
forest under tho care and direction
OF the Forest Service. on identical lines
OF management and use as are en-
plcysd IN the existing national forests
ia tns West. where today the nation
has soms les million acres. to be kept
IN forest covering perpetuaily under
such wise rsstrictions a. to use a in
s'rre their utmost value to the people
nl'w and In the future.
While the project has been suggested
Tor period Of 30 years and assres-
srfe AGITATION has bsen made for eight
of tea years. since the need Of govern
fnsns acsion has bssn apparent. It has
b'en along somewhat indennite lines
nltn ths last session OF congress-. =
AT this session. following the ex-
hiossivs survey and report of the Sec
7 retsry of Agriculture there were intro
ducsd IN the house two bills and In
the senats two bols on iden-
Aonticsl lines In both branch
-. al providing for the purchase
'of 100000 acres IN the South
>srn Appalachians extending from Ala
bama to Psnnsylvania. and 100000
acres n the White Mountains in New
England and proposed an appropria-
tion u 100000 therefore. ~
Without going into much desaii. no
action was taken BY the house. the
J bills lying In the Committee on Agri-
culture. not being reported out.
In the senate one Of the bills passed.
near the eloss Of the session. and be-
ms sent TO the house. met the same
tate ~ the house lails. vis: mot re-
ported OFT Of Committed" The result
\ was no action. though the real earn
estness Of the advocates Of this lsgis-
iat'on. the real urgency Of II. the vital
concern of the whole nation in II.
were never better or more convincing
~ shown. See House Document.
Hearing on the Appalachian BILL"
\ Ire senate bill (No. lsss) being
|sAttn before the house committee on
szri cufture for their action. must be
taken up and Disposed OF at the COM
FMS session. Of congress. and II the
committee can bs induced to report II
NO that The house can consider and
debate n. II stands an excellent chance
for snac<ment into law. for a careful
poll a. the present house seems to
shoH that the project which has the
cordial endorsement Of the whole ma
fion. viIi Win by large majority II
yo;. can be had ON it-and that tina.
old device of keeping Il buried in
cor mittee may not at this session
ave 4 TO prevent action.
We are not - much concerned with
ithe success of any special measure. We
WA and must have In some definite
foria and adequate start towards q ma
tionl forest In bots. sections, 30 that
we plan to support heartily any meas
are or measures which will best bring
this about. a. . start towards def-
mite. systematic and clearly defined
forest policy on the part OF the gov
ernnent. the carrying out OF which
would mean the extension Of the ma
ticnsi forests to all sections where
they may be "consttutionaily" estab-
iishei and Insure national sanity as
recerds their proper conservation to
the utmost extent possible.
large Impetus has been given to
the cause Of forest rerpetuation along
these broad lines by the conservation
movement which had It's inspiration In
the Governors Conference in May
lssf. The National Conservation Com
nission appointed by the president as
NE result OF that conference has been
engasf "a for months In a study OF the
natioi Al resources and of all the ques-
lions involved In their wise utilization.
1tr e. 'iy report munt be an authori-
tativs utterance. II this report fixes
the fnrest question ~ of FIRST impor-
tance because OF their rapid destruc-
zion their Early complete exhaus-
tion. it viii arouse . demand for their
preservstion that congress must heed
land this demand must name the
Appalnchain-white Mountain region.
nrs'. Whether the Conservation Com
mission does this or not conditions are
such as demand that there be no let
up In the earnest and hard work of
the uuselnsh men and women of the
nation who are urging national action
IN this important matter. and iegisla-
tiOn bearing on II should continue to