1908 PROTl-XTlnX FOR AMERICAN INDUSTRY 219 



in the Southern Appalachians amounts convenient tu have an attack of 



to 2,700,000 horsepower, which at an stitmi.jiial tight colic. 1 want you to 



annual rental of $20 per horsepower go before that CO littee and u;ive 



w.'iild amount to something over them a preventive fur tin-, dread dis- 



S; 0,000,000 of revenue per year. If ease. 



Congress had done its duty and passed I feel, my friends, that if we could 

 tin- bill when it was introduced some get that bill out of the cummitte< 

 ten or twelve years ago, and had ac- would pass. Surely, when the Senate 

 quired these lands in the Southern Ap- of the United States has pa--rd tin- 

 palachian and in the White Mountain bill so many times without any >eriou- 

 ranges, the Government would have objection; when the Committee on 

 been saved millions upon millions of Agriculture, last year, without any in- 

 dollars; and the longer we delay the formation on the subject before it ex- 

 more the destruction goes on, and the cept some comparatively meager data, 

 more in the end will we be called passed it unanimously, surely that 

 upon to appropriate out of the Fed- committee, with this full report that 

 eral treasury. The time is now ; this the Forest Service has made, which 

 is the accepted moment. The lumber emphasizes the need of this legislation, 

 industry is in a pretty bad way, I am w r ill act this year. A committee which 

 informed. Great lumber companies passed the bill last year, with prac 

 are willing to sell their cut-over lands tically no information about it, surely 

 very cheaply; they are willing to sell ought to pass it this time; and if the 

 a great deal of their virgin timber committee does not pass it this time 

 rather cheaply, much more cheaply there will be an inclination in the 

 than they would twelve months ago; breasts of some of us to inquire why 

 and if we are to act, now is the time it does not pass it. 

 to begin. I am glad that you are here. I 

 I am glad to see this large represen- want the committee, and I want the 

 tative gathering of people here, and I House of Representatives, to know 

 want to ask you to come over to-mor- that there is a sentiment behind thi- 

 row to the Committee on Agriculture, proposition ; that there is a strong 

 of which committee I happen to be a sentiment behind it. want them to 

 member. I want you to ccme in such know that they have some con-tun- 

 numbers, and pack in there so thickly cnts at home who are watching them, 

 that when you breathe you will burst It is a pretty good idea for the public 

 the walls of the building. I want you to keep its eyes on members of 

 to let that committee know that there S r ^ I am S lad you are here, and 

 is a strong, wholesome sentiment be- want the Congres 

 hind this proposition. Heretofore we ' ia ot box down there in South < 

 have been told that there was no real lina has been heard from, and 

 sentiment behind it; that there was J" North Carolina, and in Wes 

 nothing more behind it than the &*> aml in Pennsylvania, and 

 theory of a few dreamers. We have New York 

 been 'told that the Federal Govern- England 

 ment surely is not going into the busi- sh w lhat lhc country 

 ness of buying scenery.' We want the in -'y '" tavor of 

 business men of this country to go be- 1 believe that when the commit 

 fore the committee to-morrow and im- understands thi- proposition, 

 press upon the committee that this is that when Congress understand- this 

 no scenery proposition, but that it is a proposition, they will be verv 

 business proposition pure and simple, much in the position of the parrot that 

 We are said to have a business ad- the country ] owned. Thisparson 

 ministration up there in the House, bought a parrot that had a habit of 

 but sometimes the folks there, when using cuss words. When the parson's 

 they don't want to do a thing, find it friend- would come to call on him he 



