Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-29
PROMINENT ENGINEER SCORES
HEAD OF BUREAU FOR
FORESTRY ATTITUDE.
ACCUSED OF IGNORANCE
ON CONSERVATION ISSUE
Moore Declared That Forests Did Not
Contribute to Conservation Of Water
suppIy-Effect on Rainfall and Soil
Erosion - Own Records Dispute
Moore.
Especial Correspondence.l

Washington, Jan. 29.-In a statement
given out today, John H. Finney, sec
rotary of the Appalachian National
Forest Association, and a well-known
electrical engineer, takes a rap at DR..
Willis Moore, head of the weather bu-
reau, who lately took issue with the
forest service on the question whether
forests cause or increase rainfall and
other problems touching the relation of
forests to rainfall, floods and soil
erosion.
DR.. Moore took the ground, contrary
to the forest service officials, that for
ests do not cause or increase rainfall,
that the removal of forests from water
sheds does not tend to intensity foods
and low waters, that the effects of soil
erosion have been exaggerated and
otherwise contradicted the ideas of the
most ardent conservationists.
Mr.. Finney's statement takes numer-
Gus filings at the conclusions of DR..
Moore and attempts to show that the
head of the weather bureau doesn't
know what he is talking about.
Mr.. Finney is strong advocate of
the project for an Appalachian White
Mountain forest resolve. He asserts
that establishment of this reserve is
a duty the ration owes to itself, that it
/ is matter of national self-preserva-
| ton. and that only the nation can do
it: that here lies substantial foundation
for constructive policy along conser-
walton lines at relatively small cost to
| the great advantage of the whole coun-
try. Speaking of the opposition that
has been raised to the establishment
of the proposed reserve in the APP
palachian and White Mountain sys-
TENS, Mr.. Finney says:
| ut is meeting in congress now, as
in the past, some very active opposi-
ton, ranging from the speaker down to
| those who, in committee, are in posi-
| ton to block progress. One important
chairman raises the question of 'enor-
nous expense, another that conditions
are grossly exaggerated: a southern
member opposes it on the question oil
| 'constitutionality' 1t met last year q
powerful antagonist in the person oil
an army engineer, retired, who hello
that forests had no effect on water sup
ply or regulation; this year it meet:
an equally valiant opponent in Mr.
Willis Moore. of the weather bureau
whose carefully timed report made tt
the chairman of the house committee
on agriculture again furnishes vel
| coined ammunition to those who fgh
/ it.
{ Colonel Chittenden is the army engi
| rs NV, IN
Finney recalls the weather bureau
forecast as to the weather in Washing
ton last inauguration day and says:
; Il do not measure in scientific at
tainment to the present Distinguish
opponent of forestry. but some prac
t teal engineering and a little commo
: sense based on an actual knowledge O
: conditions in the south. may shed som
light on Mr. Moore's conclusions a
reported in the daily press. and shows
: if a demonstration be necessary t
1 those who happened to be in Washing
2 ton on March last, that meteorolog
ica science is hardly so exact as
have accepted without question, tn
opinions and conclusions of even s
distinguished man as the chief of tn
\ weather bureau.
Like the gentleman who recent
came out of the north with tremendou
:. claims, but without his note book an
$ instruments. Mr.. Moore states his cor
) illusions with great flourish of Ian
n guage-but withholds his records"
s Mr.. Finney then takes UP ten cor
illusions by Mr.. Moore with respect
the relations Of forests and rainfa
and of forests and soil erosion. On tt
conclusions of Mr. Moore that the re
y moval of forests from water sheds doe
not tend to intensity floods and 10
l. waters, he declares the records of IL
y weather bureau itself dsprove his a.
d sertions, and that they are "disprovt
J. absolutely by every southern Apps
e lachian stream whose water shed has
considerable part been deforested
cutting and fire.
1.-The records for these streams take
from the weather bureau" says NJ
to Finney, ARE published by the geolog
cal survey and the forest service al
are available to all those who desi
l. to see for themselves"
I'd AS to the erosion of the soil, NJ
1t Finney asks who will speak up for
r. benefits