The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-02-04
IN. .ian 81. "a. "a. Va mus deaI faIrly

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han $sO.0oo,00o. We must deal fairly
Sith these people who are investing
heir capital in our state, hut We must
lso deal Justly with the citizens Q
lis state and believe We cannot dis
.harge our duty TO either the men wi.
re investing their capital mere CT our
'Nn citizens unless something Is done
this session OF the legislature to PR
ect the rights OF our own people ant
it the same time give notice 10 this
who are Investing or may invest the
apital in this State Of !" terms ~
conditions upon whir1 they will
permitted to utilize the water Of Q
streams.
AS said to YOU in my regular NEE
sage ! believe that tbs Tlte:: Few
should be made source Of revenue
10 the State. still think so and earn
sstly urge you TO provide such a tax.
lust what that tax shall be is for you
o determine. can only insist thai
be fair and just both 10 capital and
the citizens OF this State. | repeat
slia; I said in my regular message
hat the supervisors and control o.
.hese water power companies SHOULD
be placed under a public service coin
mission which l hope this Legislature
will create. close what have to say
On this subject by quoting from a dis
tinguished citizen OF this country
water is power. Water is strength,
Water is health"
Forestry
When the entire area OF West viz
ginia was in woods It is estimated that
the total quantity OF timber was ap
proximately $50, OOO,OOO.OO0 feet, board
measure. 1t is also estimated that the
quantity OF timber grown in the State
since It ceased to be an unbroken
wilderness has amounted TO a like
sum. From data before me it ap
pears that over 15,OOO.OO0,0OO feet OF
lumber, board measure. have been chi
since 1879, and that We have wasted
more than 23S.000,00O,000 feet. The
figures are startling but they are from
the best authority We have on the
subject. According 10 the same au
thority we have now in forests not 10
exceed 3O,OOO,0OO,OOO feet Of lumber.
The relation of forested watersheds
to regularity or stream flow is well
and accepted. The rela'
ton OF normal streamhow to the
health OF the people living by the
streams needs no explanation. The
people living in districts affected by
floods may easily trace the cause OF
their troubles and disasters to the de.
nuding OF the mountain slopes at the
sources of the stream along which
they live. That is not an act OF Cod
it Is an act of man, and il is an act
which can be speedily remedied by
exercise OF inexpensive precautionary
measures. -...
First, measurL. tst be passed 10
provide. for protect. Of forests from
fire. And with this I'D i'll view 1t is
very necessary 10 have n! adequate
appropriation o. money. think we
should have $4,000 to comply with the
Weeks law under the Federal govern.
ment. by which We would receive a
similar amount from appropriation al
ready made by Congress for this puT.
pose. am lead TO believe that this
action on the part of the State and
MAI tonal government would prompt
the contribution of from $4,000 to
$4,000 from timber land owners, max.
ing total OF from 100000 to $4,000
available for really eaicieut system
Of forest fire protection. This would
provide lookouts, install telephone
service to lookout stations, and other
equipment recognized to be required
in modern forest protection. And, If
the seasons are propituou5, this ap.
preparation may servo for number
OF years.
Second. 1t is desirable 10 have Il
recognized head for all State and pri.
vate activities along forestry lines,
and l recommend that yen provide for
a State Forester The Forester would
be the head OF system OF fire pre-
lection and would also direct the
combat against Chestnut blight and
ether forest diseases. Also he would
-, AIM r,,II,a.it,. No nn0u0'N In nIl mat,