The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-02-26
President Taft Is in Favor of
Forming Two Great
Reserves
POINT OF LEGALITY RAISED
Wrangie Over the Question of Federal
or State Jurisdiction-Need Of
Leaders to Push Admin
istration Measures.


introduced into congress to provide
for creating a great forest reservation
In the Southern Appalachians, and an
other smaller reservation in the White
mountains of New Hampshire. The
president thinks that there is nothing
In the constitution of the United
States which forbids the federal gov
eminent from taking over the owner
ship of forests which lie within the
borders of sovereign states"
The president apparently bases his
belief In the constitutionality of fed
eral ownership of state forests In the
law which gives the general govern
ment supervision over navigable
streams. The presidents belief is, and
he is said to have the support of his
lawyer cabinet In the contention, that
the government has a right to control
those things which keep a stream nav
igable, and among them the experts
say the forests stand first and fore
most When heavy rainfall comes
In forest covered land, the roots of
the trees and the trees themselves
check the distribution of the water SO
that 1t comes down the sides of the
mountain shed slowly. and as a re-
suit the streams are kept at a nor
NAL depth. If the forests are cleared
away the water runs on all at once
and food conditions ensue, to be fol-
lowed by periods of drought.
Representative Weeks of Massachu-
sets introduced the bill which pro-
vfdes for a forest reservation in Vir-
ginia. North and South Carolina and
in New Hampshire. President Roose-
welt tried in every way that mental
and physical energy suggested to get !
congress to sanction these forest res
ervatious, but Mr.. Roosevelt failed
and the present president is willing
to attempt something that his prede- |
cessor confessed he could not do. and
ne has hopes to succeed where an.
other could not succeed.
Either Feast or Famine.
There are thousands of acres of
virgin forests left in the Southern An
palachian country. Timber cutting,
however, In places. it is charged has
been SO reckless that the mills situat.
ed along the streams fed by the wa.
'ers OF the mountains are compe,,ed
1t times to shut down because Of al.
.arnste flood and drought conditions
Z Is a case Of water feast or a wa.
'er famine for large part of the /.
fme.
The friends of the Weeks hill ara !
maintaining that streams now nayi-
fable will be useless for purposes of
commerce unless there is a stop nut
o the work Of denuding the forests.
me representatives in congress from
ne states affected by the forest pres
rvafion fiii are practically united In
Importing the measure. Nearly all of !
hese representatives from the states !
I Virginia. North and South Carolina I
re Democrats. and they are with the I
In its wish to create a
crest preserve. A few of the south. I
I'm Democrats are In opposition, and I
hey give as reason that the federal t
government will be invading the
lights OF the states If 1t takes over I
be forests. t
Both sentimental and business con.
iderations are to be found in the at. 2
Pmpt to save the forests ON the :.
White mountains of New Hampshire
he scenery of the great New Eng !
and summer resort is said TO ha
threatened with destruction. More.
yer. tho water flow in the streams 5
hitch provides many New England :,
ILLS with power. the friends of the =
weeks bill maintain, is endangered y
enttinent and business seems to have
ono together in partnership to pre- u
erve the forests. President Taft
GEMS 10 approve of the partnership. :
Want Men to Push Bills. =
President Taft is having hard n
ork to end individual leaders in :,
'ngress who arc willing to stand n
sponsors AMI champions for a
reat legislative measures which he NJ
as introduced. The leaders, 1t Is said. Is
ave promised party support for the r.
g.slatioh. bur what the president g,
ants is some man of force In the IN
irty colnscls to stand forth as a v
lieftain ON the floor to direct the m
sstinies Of the bills which he wants 81
J have passed. \,
Take the measure for amendments T.
the interstate commerce law. for &C
stance. In the house of representa- be
yes Mr.. Townsend of Michigan is e,
e sponsor for this BILL He has been
onsor for other bills along similar r,
les in the past. Mr.. Townsend is IN
able man. but he is a subordinate IN
ember of the committee on inter. ri,
ate and foreign commerce, to which n,
e bill has been sent for considera- tn
IN. The representative. who by We
ecedent and custom ought to intro tic
ce the measure and stand 40 its IN