The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-02-03
PRESIDENT PLANS
FOREST RESERVES
Is in Favor of Setting Aside Large
Tracts in Different Parts of
the Country.
IDEA HAS SOME OPPOSITION
Senators from the Northwest Oppose
the Plan-AttItude of Ex-Presi-
dent RooseveIt-New States
Practically Assured

Practically Assured.
Washington.-In President Taft's
message on the conservation of the
natural resources of the country he
did not call specifically by name GER
tain projects for forest preservation
which 1t is known that he advocates.
The president, however, said some
thing in what may be called a legal
way which showed conclusively that
ne Is in favor OF setting aside a great
forest preserve in the southern Appa-
lachian mountains and another sim
liar preserve in the White mountains
of New Hampshire.
Representative Weeks of Massachu-
sets has introduced a forest reserve
bill, and with presidential backing the
Republicans say that it will pass the
house, but there is a tremendous op-
position to the measures in the north
west. Senators Carter of Montana
and Hepburn of Idaho are opposed to
the Appal; chian forest reserve plan,
as they are opposed in general way
to some other forest reservation meas
ures. 1t may be that if certain diff
culties can be cleared away and an
understanding reached as to the effect
of the Appalachian bill upon existing
legislation that the northwest opposi-
tion VIII disappear.
Taft for Forest Reserves.
In President Taft's message he said
in effect that in his belief the federal
government. had t. right to establish
forest reserves within state lines If
1t could be shown that the saving Of
the forest was necessary to maintain
a proper depth of water in navigable
streams. The federal government has
control of streams that are navigable.
and it is contended that the govern.
ment has the right to see to it that
nothing is done which shall threaten
the continuance of proper navigation
conditions. If the forests are cut
away it is held there will be floods
part of the time and very likely
droughts the rest of the time. In
other words, the streams will be over
flowed and navigation thus threatened
for some months, while for a part of
the remainder OF the time there will
be not enough water to float ships.
The bill which Representative
Weeks has introduced provides for an
appropriation for the purchase of for
est reserves OF S1,OOO,OOO for 1910,
and not exceeding $2,O00,0 900 for every
year thereafter until 1915. The
former chief forester. Clifford Pinchot,
has estimated that within three years
timber receipts from the reserves
from the reserves would be sufficient
to take care of the appropriation 1t
must not lie understood that the gov
ernment intends to stop numbering
when it gets control of the Appa-
lachian forest preserve. The idea is
to lease the numbering privilege and
to see that the business is so carried
on that in taking out one tree the 9th.
er trees shall not be injured and
the underground shall be preserved.
Question Of States Rights.
Most of the representatives in con.
gress from the state which contain
the forests in the southern Appa.
iachian country are in favor OF the
measure. There are some Democrats
who think. despite Mr. Taft's conten
tion to the contrary, that the measure
will be one which directly will in
wade the domain of the rights of the
states. Last year bill like the
Weeks bill passed the lower house ol
congress, but the senate would have
nothing to do with it. For years
such a measure had been before the
house, but the organization leaders
we're against it. Finally the speaker
said that the bill ought to be voted
upon, and this was considered much
Of a concession from Mr.. Cannon. The
bill was put to the house and passed
In the White mountains the forests
are disappearing rapidly and the beauty
of the scenery of this great summer
resort section is being threatened
Moreover, the regulation of the water
supply OF many of the New England
streams which furnish power for al
kinds of mills is getting to be a mat
ter of great difficulty. because of the
periods of alternate drought and f1ooC
caused by the cutting down OF trees
in the mountain section.
1t is said that some of the opposi
ton in the northwest to the eastern
forest reserves plan is due to feal
that the 25 per cent. of the receipts
from sales of timber paid under thu
laws of the states and territories il
which national forest reserves lie ma!
be endangered. 1t is difficult thint