The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-18
MUST PROTECT
THE FORESTS
Fifteen Years More For
Virgin Timber.
ALABAMA CITIZENS WARNED
State Forestry Commission Was In
Session Yesterday. n
.. II. Foster says Present system OF
laundering and Turpentining Makes
No Promise For q Fu-
ture Yield.

THE supply Of virgin timber Will De
very nearly gone in fifteen years. Tne
present consumption of timber is apou.
1--WE times the amount OF annuai
growth. The present system OF ium-
bering and turpentining make no pro-
vision for future yield. 1t Is question
whether the timber of the future VIII
furnish much more than the fuel need
ed for the homes. Forests naturally
flourish In Alabama. and all that. IL
necessary is that they be protected
and wisely utilized.
In these words, ]. H. Foster, expert
assigned TO Alabama for survey OF
the forests of this State by the Nation
al Bureau of Forestry, sounds the
warning to Alabama citizens. 1t 10
part of a voluminous report submitted
yesterday to the State Forestry Conn
mission which held a meeting In the
office of Governor Conner. ex-offcio
chairman.
There were present besides the Gov
ernor, Secretary John H. Wallace. Jr.,
who is also State Same and Fish Com
missioner Hon. ]. A. Wilkinson, who ID
also Commissioner Of Agriculture and
Industries, and Prof. r. s.. Mackin-
tosh, of the faculty Of the Alabama
Polytechnic Institute. The other menu
bers Of the Commission, John L. Kaul,
of Birmingham. and Hon. J. B. Powell.
Of Greenville. were unavoidabiy absent.
In connection with the warning
which Mr.. Foster gave he made out
a list of the needs of this state In the
way of preserving the forests. He
recommends the passage OF more en-
Gent and rigorous forestry laws than
now obtain and his opinion in the mat.
ter is TO be incorporated with that or
others In forestry legislation TO De
submitted at the extra session OF the
Legislature this summer. 1t seemed 20
be the consensus of opinion among ali
the members that legislation was neeo
ed In Alabama.
Tn addition to the Commissioners
there were present by courtesy How
ard Douglass, OF Washington county
and Frank Matlock, representing large
timber land interests In their respeo-
tive counties. They were on hand 10
present applications for exemptions OF
cut-over lands from taxation under the
terms of an act passed by the last
session of the Legislature. They also
were present to protest against ex-
listing conditions whereby the young
timber growth of the State Dis being de-
vastated by unlmpeded forest fires.
Want stringent Laws.
Mr.. Douglas made the signincant
statement In meeting tnat unIess q
rigid fire patrol system IL established
by the state, washington county for
ests would be q desert in very few
years. They asked for more stringent
legislation against forest fres and
measures compelling the railroads TO
clear their right of way before Oc-
tober 1 each year so that sparks emit
ted from engines might not start disas-
trous fires.
while the Governor did not give
promise Of Incorporating the forest
matters in his call for an extra ses-
sion. It is said he was much impressed
with the urgent nature of conditions
as they exist at present. ,,- .,.t $50
Following is a summary of what
Forester Foster considers az Alabama's
greatest needs:
3,sThe employment Of a trained forest
er to have charge of county forest
wardens, to examine State ana private
lands and advise in their management
and to carry on an educational CAM
paign throughout the State.
"a revision of the forest fire laws so
as to require the counties to pay $3.50
annually for salary and expenses Of
forest wardens, to require railroads to
patrol and clear their rights of way.
TO hold all pesons responsible for dam
ages by fires passing from their own
to adjacent property, to compel the
appointment OF forest wardens on pri-
waite timber lands, and TO provide for
the posting of IRE notices over the
State
"The creation OF State Forest Re-
serves out Of school and tax lands and
by purchase, to be kept forever under
forest management
1.-THE enactment of more stringent
stock laws. particularly to keep hogs
within enclosures through the year
"a restriction OF numbering opera
ttons and the establishment OF a hxed
minimum diameter for turpentininS.
"An appropriation for a detailed ex-
animation OF the forest resources of the
State. including an accurate map. an
estimate of the timber. and the rate OF
growth of trees in all types within
the state, to be made through the CO.
operation OF the National Forest Ser
vice and the State OF Alabama.
IAN effort to arouse the widest in
terest in forestry work among all
classes of people in all parts of the
State. by means OF lectures. literature.
correspondence, and personal inter-
views. The perpetuation Of the forests
cannot be assured by legislation alone.
but depends upon the people"
Another prophetic statement OF Mr..
Foster follows:
"Tha examination of the forest con-
ditions of Alabama has shown con-
clusively that the timber wealth of the
StatoS Is rapidly disappearing. that IL
the present Encouragement and neg