The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-19
CLIFFORD PINCHOT
 TALKS OF FORESTS Lumbermen Are Aiding Plan
 tor Conservation PROTECTION IS URGENT Forester Declares That Unless Con
Forester Declares That Unless Con- serVation Is Made Effective, For ests Will Soon Be Thing
 of the Past.

GIntDOI, CnleI lDT6EleT OI ln6 ODlLoNl States. who has been in Atlanta this week in attendance on the annual conference for education in the south, said in an in- terview today that he was much gratified over having received assurances of sup port from the southern lumber and saw mill interests in his efforts toward con servation of the forests.
 "The lfimber manufacturers of Georgia, Florida and Alabama" he said, "are be- ginning to realize the importance of this work. and l have received most gratifying and hearty assurances of cooperation from their association.
 And it may as we'll be realized that only through such cooperation as this, and through individual effort, can much be accomplished in the direction Of forest preservation. The United States govern ment can do much in connection with the preservation Of the mountain forests by creating the proposed Appalachian and White Mountain Forest reserve which, I am confident, will soon be done. But when it comes to protection of the forests in lower sections which, of course, the forest reserve proposal cannot touch, any thing that is accomplished will depend upon the good will and efforts of indi- viduals.
 t,rhere are now in contemplation plans to make this cooperation on the part of the lumber manufacturing interests effec- tive. Unless decidedly effective steps In this direction are taken, there is no ques- ton in my mind that within quarter of a century the forests of the United States will be practically denuded. At the pres ent rate of cutting for all purposes, this statement is susceptible of scientific mathematical demonstration.
 "Of course forest denudation means loss in many directions. There is no substi- ute for wood that have been able to find. It is an essential and extensively used element in the most modern freproof buildings, and with the development of the hreproof structures its consumption has been always on the increase.
 "As the timber becomes scarcer it will become more expensive. And the price of timber Is a factor which enters into a multitude of prices of other products. It is largely consumed by railroads; its in- creased cost will tend to increase rates. Already the railroads are presenting the argument in behalf of higher rates, that their materials cost them more. Timber in the shape of crossties and of finished lumber is one of the chief of these.
 There are many phases of the question which are more or less familiar, such as the effect of forest denudation on streams, both water powers and those used for navigation, and the importance of proper conservation of forest resources cannot bs too strongly or too often impressed upon the public attention"
 City Departments.
 Atlanta is, perhaps, the only city of i'm portance in the country whose public works department is divided into two di- visions, under two heads. Atlanta has an engineering department while the act usl work of street improvement and other public works is under an entirely differ ent head.
 The result has been a continual dispute between the two departments as to au- thority and responsibility for the last eight or 10 years. At times 1t has been latent, at others violent.
 Recently a committee specially appoint ed by council Investigated the trouble between the two divisions and found in effect that both were at fault. As so- luton of the problem the committee rec commended a consolidation of the two de- partments under one executive head, the new department to have charge of all public actual work The proposed salary was fixed at s500o.
 The incumbents at the head Of the two divisions are not satisfied with the find- ing. They both propose to appeal their case to the people, since 1t is generally believed if the consolidation takes place the official head provided for will be sub ject to election at the ballot box.
 So Atlanta Is confronted by the prospect of a race between City Engineer R. M. Clayton and Commissioner of Public Works H. l.. Collier. each of whom still maintains he Is right. and who, dissatis- fled with the action of the committee, want to submit their grievances to the people.
 Both have made good officials in their respective capacities; the only trouble has been lack of harmony between the two departments where perfect unison and ac- cord are necessary to the attainment of the best results.
 Announcements which each has made to the effect that if their departments are consolidated they will be candidates for election as commissioner of public construction, as the new office will prob ably be known.
 It is also probable that other aspirants will keep out of the way and leave them a clear field It will be a pretty fight, of personal popularity, for, outside of their personal jealousies, both are good and able men.
 Forgets Husband.
 Mrs. Russell Thomas. nee Silvey Speer, has apparently forgotten her chauffeur husband who Is said now to be a student st the Boston Tech, where he is preparing himself for an electrical career-a line for which he undoubtedly made a splen- did beginning in Atlanta
 The youthful wife is surrounded by youthful beaux who are seen almost everywhere with her, and who are as keen and interested as if she had never had a marital escapade. She is one of the most attractive in Atlanta's younger set, and is the recipient on all sides of marked attention
 Her divorce suit is scheduled to cont up for first trial at the June term ol court, and the indications are that fl will be unopposed. There seems to bs little doubt that the heiress will get hei freedom without question; it will be sim. ply an anuulment of the marriage, thougl as fin all such cases, two jury verdic.i are required.
 Gossip is rife as to how and on wha
 terms settlement was reached witt young Russell Thomas who in the be ginning announced a determination no- to give up his young bride. The indi cations are that he has seen the mat ter differently, and that, satisfactorily tt him. the case will go through the court without his voice being raised in opposi ton.
 The accepted inference is that the par ents of the young bride have agreed t,