KAliM A\U MUNICIPAL VVO(ll> LOTS. l.>o 



gard to the first aspect of conservation the setting aside of huge forest re- 

 serves for the reforestation of the Alleghanies so that the hardwood supply 

 would bo preserved and increased, but we have heard prac tically nothing 

 of the building up of the forests. You hear of their planting in northern 

 Michigan and Minnesota, where the forests have been lumbered and the 

 forests totally destroyed. 



The threatened peril that has brought about the agitation foi- con- 

 servation was the destruction of the forests at the head of the streams — 

 at the headwaters, which leads to soil erosion and floods. Then the 

 destruction of these forests has modified the climate as the de- 

 struction goes on, and we are more concerned in this additional feature 

 than in the destruction of the forests. And then will come the increased 

 cost of forest products until experts in that line say that in twelve to 

 fifteen years the hardwood supply in this country, at the present rate 

 of consumption, will be practically exhausted, unless something is done. 

 That means fai'm machinery, furniture and other things made from 

 hardwoods will increase in price or substitutes must be found. We 

 are in no danger in Nebraska from destruction of the forests at the 

 headwaters of our streams and soil erosion, because we have but little 

 of that danger. We have no forests to destroy; we are better off today 

 than we were twenty-five years ago in that respect, in much better 

 condition, but it is also true that if we would build up forests and 

 plant trees generally over the land we would be in much better shape 

 in reference to our climate; we would also, in so far as we succeeded in 

 growing this commercial lumber and posts, prevent the increase In 

 price of forest products to the extent that we devoted ourselves to its 

 production. 



My experience in Nebraska dates back a little less than twenty-six 

 years, but as I look back to 1885 and my knowledge of the preceding 

 four or five years and the condition of my relatives and friends in 

 Nebraska I see a great deal of tree planting. Groves were put out and 

 timber claims were being taken up in those days until in the part of the 

 country where I lived and where my relatives lived, there was about one 

 timber claim to every section, which amounted to ten acres of forest 

 timber planted then by almost every farmer. Many came from Iowa, 

 where trees grow readily. They put trees around their farms and 

 along the roads and they put out wind-breaks, but little care and atten- 

 tion was paid to the quality and kinds of trees planted and I have 

 noticed that as the years have gone by this tree planting has ceased 

 almost entirely. 



That is the thing that this society and the people of Nebraska ought 

 to address themselves to; that is the disease in regard to tree planting 

 that needs attention in this state, but I believe there is an awakening 

 along the agitation on conservation. You know this conservation idea 

 may be put through by simply a vote, but it may be delayed and it is 

 best to encourage it by talking about it and passing resolutions about it 

 and it may be made a practical thing in Nebraska. In the main, we 



