The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-11-14
FOREST CONSERVATION
Will Be Main Object ~of Meeting Of
Congress Nov. 1920.

Congress to be held In washington,
ID. c., November Is, 10 and 20, is to
be devoted largely to forest conserva-
ton, because of the national impor
lance of the subject in it's many
phases. Public interest is involved,
because upon the proper solution of
the, various problems depends the
cost of wood without which our civ
ilization would decline; the perpetu-
alton of the timber supply; the devel-
Opment of hydro-electric power; the
utilization of non-agricultural lands;
! the availability of water for irriga-
ton. the preservation of forest areas
| for health and recreation, and many
other developments essential alike to
every citizen from the lumberman to
| the man who owns neither a tree nor
a foot of land ~ t't
| Here, are some of the reasons why
the Congress puts forestry foremost
at this years meeting. {5611 = l8ss
Forest fires1 continue to 9 destroy
lives by hundreds and tangible assets
averaging upwards of fifty million
dollars annually, and do incalculabIe
damage to soil, water and young
growth. alI
Forest insects destroy enough tim.
/ Der every year to finance the con-
structiOn program of the navy.
4 Floods follow forest denundation,
and the disasters of this year can be
:, traced in part, at least, to non-for-
4 ested watersheds. ,.3>-elit = ~
We are using three times as much
timber as grows each year, and worst
1 of all, are utilizing only forty to sew
tenty pc rcent. of each tree cut down;
while fire destroys the equivalent of
each years new growth. see
The tax laws in most States do
not recognize forests as crop to be
perpetuated, but act to destroy the
timber resources for the present to
i the poverty of the future. 5119td ~
'Ibs The preservative treatment of tim
Der is a potent factor in conserva-
ton, since it reduces the consumption
and makes inferior species available
At present 20 per cent. of the cross
ties, but less than one-third of 1 per
a cent of the timber used, is treated.
Despite the Obvious public need
4 there is strong opposition to the de
:, velOpment of safe national forest
policy. iGar ar 2
L While the future is not secure, def
/. mite progress has been made in the
following ways: H11
Forest fire associations among tim
=. berland owners, by publicity anG
systematic organization, are materi
ally reducing forest fire losses.
The Federal Government controls
= on the National Forests, about one
!, fifth of the standing timber, and b.
proper utilization and protection
), makes it present asset and a per
petual resource. ~ #t1 81
II A majority of the forested State
have organizations which are doin,
S effective work in forest protection
q and education. 1903
: Two States, Pennsylvania and Lou
t siana, have this year enacted fores
e taxation laws based on correct prin
ciples, and other States are agitat
ing similar legislation. Ej
l. ftkWhile intensive forest management
d on the European plan, has not beel
l. applied on private holdings, the lun
l. bermen are slowly realizing that thei
n business is furthered by cooperation
} with public interests. Forestry. an
lumber are receiving mutual recogn
= ton, which will make for forestScor
d servation under the combined stint
e JUS ,Ol euuCdIlOn anu oCOuOIlIC UcFe
D. Opment.
a There is fairly well. defined publ
D. interest in forest conservation, bu
IS it must be stimulated to the point G
If forcing necessary reforms.
The Naional Conservation Congress
seeks, through education and inve.
J. tigation, to establish sound fores
r. policy, both, in the broad national a.
# poets and in essential details, and t
" support and strengthen the pregre.
a sive forest work now being don,
=. The Forestry COMMITTEES, through il
s subcommittee and utilization wit
the American Forestry Association
has unequaled facilities for effectiv
investigation, and wide publicity an
= education
r.