FIGHT FOR APPALACHIAN FORESTS 



261 



The net result of the vigorous cam- 

 paign for the passage of the bill in the 

 last Congress was therefore an accurate 

 testing of the temper of the two houses 

 toward the proposed legislation, and a 

 definite line-up of the House on a roll 

 call. It was also shown that more de- 

 termined opposition may hereafter he 

 anticipated in the Senate. The strong- 

 est arguments of our opponents have 

 been made. Their efforts to check this 

 movement by argument, by votes, or 

 by parliamentary tactics, have been 

 exerted to the utmost and it has gone 

 forward in spite of them. Two bills, 



not identical, have passed both the Sen- 

 ate and the House. This in itself is 

 progress. It is to be hoped that in an- 

 other Congress it may be possible to 

 agree upon a measure, which may pass 

 both houses early enough in the session 

 so that it will not be prevented from 

 becoming a law by lack of time. 



The issue is now clearly before Con- 

 gress and the country. It rests on the 

 vital principle of conservation of natural 

 resources, and will not down. The peo- 

 ple have unmistakably asked for legis- 

 lation on this subject. They will de- 

 mand it of the Sixty-first Congress. 



Proclamation Concerning Cuting of Timber and Clearing of Lotts in 

 Philadelphia and Suburbs, 1686, Wm, Penn f P. Gr, By William 

 Penn, Proprietary and Governor 



Since justice in all things ought to be observed It ought not for yt reason 

 in ye least thing to bee neglected and for yt end I took great care whilst I was 

 in ye Province among ye rest to prevent People cuting Wood and especially 

 Timber off from other mens Lotts, and foreseeing ye scarcity yt would quickly 

 follow, I did appoint a Woodsman who was instructed to graunt such Trees as 

 belonged not to any private Purson, and in such number as ye case deserved and 

 for his pains to receive 6d per tree. And in as much as I am credibly informed 

 yt some of ye People of Philadelphia have been very irregular and injurious 

 herein. I doe hereby clesier and strictly order my loving friends and Comrs : 

 William Markham, Thomas Ellis and John Goodson dilligently to inspect this 

 matter and to cause such as shall from time to time be found offenders to be 

 effectually and Impartially Presented according to Law in ye case provided. 

 And because one of ye evil consequences of destroying ye Timber soe irregularly 

 has been the growth of Underwood, \vhich does not only hinder ye Town stock 

 of ye benefit they might else have, and render ye Town more a Wilderness, but 

 if not cleared and prevented may become a common Xuisance, by being a Covert 

 for Vermin and too often for loos and evil persons, I have thought fitt to require 

 my said Commrs and they are hereby ordered to present this to ye Inhabitants 

 of ye Town whose accomadation has been for ye most part ye cause of this 

 inconvenience, and they allsoe are hereby required to take some effectuall cours 

 to clear the ground of such under-woods with all convenient speed. 

 Given at Worminghurst Place in old Engld ye 26th of ye nth Mo 1686. 

 (Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. I, p. 97, Philadelphia, 1852.) 



