The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-09
FORESTRY
BILL READY
Probable Passage By
Senate Today
LUMBER MEN SATISFIED
Practically Re-enactment Of Pre-
sent Law
New Features OF Bill Provides That
Railroads Shall Keep Right OF
Way Clear OF Grass and
Stumble.

dayin8 passed the senate sCouhfuit-
tee on Game, Fish and Forestry Pres
ervation. with the single amendment
which eliminated the restriction on
lumber mills In cutting trees Of less
than twelve inches In diameter, the
forestry bill will come up. probably
today or tomorrow, for final passage.
Since the elimination of>the feature
which was proven Objectionable to the
lumber interests. there 10 every pros
pect Of the passage OF the bill. which
10 aimed, essentially, at the conserva-
ton and preservation OF the forests. A
note Of warning Is struck in the decla-
ration that the timber of Alabama is
only sufficient to last fifteen years. at
the present rate of consumption. ac-
cordtug to statistics presented by an
Of conditions,
John H. wallace. Jr. present State
Forest COMMISSIONER Ms advocating the
bill strenuousiy. He Il Is who has told
OF the danger. Mr.. wallace said yes
terdayi
"The proposed forestry bill 10 prac-
tically q re-enactment Of the present
law hich IL palpably uncon-
stitutional for the reason that It was
referred to one Senate Committee and
reported back to another. The prin-
that all railroad and lumber corpora
lions operating locomotives shall keep
their respective rights-of-way clear of
grass, stubble and other infiammable
matter. y
'+over 80 per cent. OF our forest fires
are caused by sparks from engines.
and no matter no superior the spark
arrester or appliance with which engines
are equipped be. unless the rfghts-of
way are kept clear OF grass, stub BILE
and brush. sparks escaping from the
engines will ignite this infiammable
matter and the fires will sweep the
adjacent forests. Each year. millions
go up In smoke and the young trees
and seedlings are absolutely destroy
ID and the old ones are seriously dam
aged by such confagration. The rich
numus or vegetable matter Is burned
AWAY and the soil Is Slapped OF it's fer
.iiity.
More than 10 per cent of the State.
sbout twenty-three millions Of acres is
wooded and the timber interests of
he State at present are Of enormous
value. and IL IL due to the citizens and
AK payers that this vast asset be pro-
.ected from the ravages Of forest fires.
The government estimate Of exporta-
lion and consumption Of Alabama tim
Der Is about nine hundred million feet
syery year. and Il IL estimated that
over two billion feet OF timber are an
nually used locally.
1t IL furthermore estimated that
there 10 only enough timber to last at
the present rate OF consumption If
Teen more years. 1t Is evident to ev-
cry posted man that the States ma
Lurei resources are being rapidly de-
pleted- 1t is highly important to the
people OF Alabama that the State
should always continue to be ons Of
he greatest exports Of lumber and
valuable forest products. since these
Industries furnish employment for
many thousands ana the profits are
through every region Of
ne state. 1t is OF greater Importance.
however, that the forests Of the State
mould be able to furnish at all times
he timber and the forestry products
necessary for home consumption, and
he maintenance Of other industries
dependent upon the forests.
The wonderful development Of the
mining industry during the last few
years will be dwRrfed In COMPARISON
With Its future possibilities II the sup
ply OF timber is preserved. AgricuI-
Iural industries have a tremendous
SNSAhocS UoI each FARMER should have
timber to furnish his fuel. construct
and keep in repair his houses and barns
and fences around his fields. This
cannot be done unless an effort is made
to suppress forest fires, which can
oniy be done by empowering a paid
to prosecute those who
wlfully and maliciously set f1res to
the forests Of the State.
The State Commission of Forestrv
has been operating for some months
and has made a most earnest endeavor
by the PRONUNCIATION of educational
propaganda. to direct the minds Of the
people to the imperative Importance of
their forests. We believe
our efforts in this regard have been
fruitful OF good results; we have been
hampered by the lack Of funds. havinp
only an annual Appropriation of $500
for the purpose OF carrying on our
work. II we are to continue to MAKE
an efrort to preserve the forests. n "a
necessary that the present bin he
passed. for the State Commission ~
Forestry is holding ONCE and do,nr
business under an unconstitutional
act"