ustxtxb_obs_1984_03_23_50_00027-00000_000.pdf

is h ic e f en Ol s d t Cafe 310 East 6th St. Austin, Texas Life Insurance and Annuities . 0SVILIFe Martin Elfant, CLU 4223 Richmond, Suite 213, Houston, TX 77027 Alander Associates MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Box 111, Salisbury, Ct. 06068 Our services have been found to be of particular value to clients whose business philosophies have become disarranged. Building on previously suggested wilderness preserves, Fritz and his allies have proposed a total of 65,000 acres of wilderness in Texas’ four national forests. The struggle to save these few last remnants from the bulldozer and the hypo-axe continues even as these words are being written. Thanks to a boost from Congressman John Bryant of Dallas, who has introduced a bill to set aside wilderness in the national forests; thanks to the publicity generated by Fritz’s anti-clearcutting suit; and thanks to continued advocacy by the Texas Committee on Natural Resources, the Sierra Club, and other groups, some portion of this wilderness proposal \(probably between 30,000 and 40,000 Congress this year. Considering the population figures projected for Texas \(18 million by 2000 and 25 million by 2020, many wedged into the central and a small amount of open space. But it is a triumph for conservationists in a state where conservationists have had Meanwhile the clearcutting goes on, both inside and outside of the national forests, as tens of thousands of acres per year of once diverse, rich native forest are transformed irreversibly into sterile rows of slash and loblolly pine. Given time, this process will afflict all but small portions of East Texas. Given time, our children’or grandchildren will have to go to wilderness areas or nature preserves just to see what was their grandparents’ birthright: natural forests alive with singing, soaring, burrowing things, and rich with wildflowers. All those concerned with this gigantic, somber transformation should read Sterile Forest as a primer a catechism of what the new clearcutting technology involves. More important, they should understand what it means. The human race now has at its disposal dozens of technologies of unsurpassed, unexpected power. Some can obviously exterminate us. Others can help enslave us or, if used wisely, might help set us free. Still others can gradually leach and decay our environment and thus enfeeble our lives. Our new powers call not for a celebration, either of wealth or of machismo, but for an exercise of a new sense of responsibility for what we have done or might yet do. That is what Ned Fritz is pleading for: first, that we come to understand the situation in spite of vested interests which will try to prevent understanding; second, that we seize responsibility for what clearcutting has done and will do if allowed to continue uncurbed. We owe Fritz a debt of gratitude for his efforts to shed light in an age that is arrogant, murky, and cowardly, all at once. Sterile Forest may be bought for $13.50, including postage, from Texas Committee on Natural Resources, Suite 3B, 5518 Dyer, Dallas 75206. Bryant’s Bill On February 23, Congressman that a compromise agreement had been reached to set aside 34,000 acres of timberland as wilderness areas in four national forests in East Texas. Bryant said the agreement “virtually assures passage of the compromise Texas Wilderness Bill [H.R. 3788] . . . and it will provide the only wilderness areas in Texas within reach of the majority of Texans.” The compromise was reached in negotiation with Congressman had originally proposed 9,000 acres of wilderness land to counter Bryant’s original call for 65,000 acres. According to Bryant, while the bill will preserve five unique wilderness areas, the total acreage will amount to less than one-quarter of 1% of all the timber acreage in East Texas. “While other regions of the country have carefully protected more than 80 million acres of wilderness,” he said, “Texas has set aside hardly any.” Parisian Charm. Omelette & Champagne Breakfast. Beautiful Crepes. Afternoon Cocktails. Gallant Waiters. Delicious Quiche. Evening Romance. Continental Steaks. Mysterious Women. Famous Pastries. Cognac & Midnight Rendezvous. In short, it’s about everything a great European style restaurant IS all about. ANDERSON & COMPANY COFFEE TEA SPICES AUSTIN, TEXAS 7:r131 512 453-1533 Send me your list. Name Street City Zip j Good books in every field JENKINS PUBLISHING CO. The Pemberton Press John H. Jenkins, Publisher Box 2085 \(1 Austin 78768 .11111111111,11111 THE TEXAS OBSERVER 27