The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-02-25
SEES NEED OF
SAVING FORESTS
President Taft Is in Favor Of
Forming Two Great
Reserves
ssE1r -
POINT OF LEGALITY RAISED
Wranele Over the Question Of Federal
or State Jurtsdietion-Need Of
POINT OF LEGALITY RAISED
Wranele Over the Question Of Federal
or State Jurtsdiction-Need OF
Leaders to Push Admin
istration Measures.

Leaders to Push Admin
istration Measures.
shington.-President Taft Is Civ.
Ing his support to the most recent bill
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
ernment 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 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 nor
NAL depth. If the forests are cleared
away the water runs of all at once
and flood conditions ensue, to be fol-
lowed by periods of drought.
Representative Weeks of Massachu-
sets introduced the bill which pro-
vides for a forest reservation in Wiz.
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
ervat1ons. 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 Ap-
paiachian country. Timber cutting.
however. In places. 1t Is charged. has
been so reckless that the mills situat.
ed along the streams fed by the wa.
tiers OF the mountains are compelled
at times to shut down because of al.
ternate food and drought conditions.
1t is a case Of water feast or a wa.
ter famine for large part OF the
time
Both sentimental and business con.
siderattons are to be found in the at.
tempt to save the forests on the
White mountains of New Hampshire
The scenery Of the great New Eng.
land summer resort Is said to he
threatened with destruction. More
over. the water flow in the streams
which provides many New England
mills with power. the friends of the
Weeks bill maintain, Is endangered
Sentiment and business seems to have
come together In partnership to pre-
serve the forests. President Taft
seems to approve Of the partnership.
Want Men to Push Bills.
President Taft is having hard
work, to find individual leaders in
congress who are willing to stand
as sponsors and champions for
great legislative measures which he
has introduced. The leaders, 1t is said.
have promised party support for the
legislation. but what the president
wants Is some man Of force in the
party counsels to stand forth "a a
chieftain on the floor to direct the
destinies Of the bills which he wants
to have passed.
Take the measure for amendments
to the interstate commerce law. for
instance. In the house OF representa-.
tives Mr.. Townsend of Michigan is
the sponsor for this bill. He has been
sponsor for other bills along similar
lines in the past. Mr.. Townsend ia
an able man. but he is subordinate
member Of the committee on inter
state and foreign commerce. to which
the bill has been sent for considera.
ton. The representative, who by
precedent and custom ought to intro.
duce the measure and stand as it's
sponsor through the trials and tribu-
lations Of debate. Is Representative
James r. Mann Of Illinois. who is the
chairman Of the committee on inter.
state and foreign commerce and. as
chairman. is. of course. the most in.
6uential member of the committee.
1t seems natural. however, that Mr..
Mann. to whom the president natural.
~ would look for first aid. should pre-