Las Vegas free press. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1891-1???, 1892-07-27
WATER.

away OF the forests IS having on the
water supply of the east. In this
country, differing from that in being
dry continually, greater pains should
be taken with preserving the forests
on the mountains than there. Hap
PLY for the immediate vicinity of
Las Vegas, the Pecos National park
will preserve the source of nearly all
the streams near us.
The following is the letter:
The heavy rains of June raised
the streams so that for three weeks
or more the smallest brooks were
torrents. Then came four successive
days of fair clear weather, and we
had ample illustration of the effects
produced by the lumbermen's axes
on the forests and on the supplies of
water to the lower country. The
streams which come from those parts
of the mountain slopes on which the
timber has been cut away subsidized
on the first clear day, and became
smaller and smaller from hour to
hour. On the third day they were
reduced to ordinary low summer
streams. Those which came out
from the primeval forest remained
full and strong, and will so continue
for some weeks.
1t is wonderful to see how the
people of a great country like ours
will allow the unchecked progress of
an evil, an evil to themselves more or
less directly, and great evil to fu-
ture generations. To put the matter
in plain words, the inhabitants of
the lower parts of the New England
states are now actually contributing
millions of dollars annually to en-
able few persons TO make a few
thousands. Every dollar that is re-
allied by the cutting and selling of
timber in the northern forests is made
by compelling contributio.. of many
dollars from the people.
The simple facts cannot be repeat
ed too frequently, since they are for
gotten from year to year. The de-
struction of northern forests does not
concern the no rthern people alone.
1t is of vital import to all the coun-
try watered by rivers which have
their supplies in the mountains and
wild lands. Some day the truth may
make its due impression and result in
wise legislation. The forest country
is reservoir Of waters. The MOSES
and boys in the deep shades are
great sponges which receive the
melted snow and the rain falls.
From them the water flows out
slowly into the streams, or sinks
slowly into the ground to come up
elsewhere in cool springs. They
thus prevent floods by retaining
water when it falls in undue guam
tity from tn clouds, and they keep
the springs and streams supplied in
long dry sea sons by their slow dis
charge.
w hen the forests are cut off the
boys dry up, the messy vegetation
d .sappears. There is nothing to hold
he water back, and it flows off rap
idly. The melting SHOWS rush down
in floods, making spring freshets
which devasl 10 the low lands far
away from the mountains. Heavy
rainfalls make similar sudden fresh
cts in the sumner time. The larger
part of every rainfall, which out to
be held back and given ought in the
slow course of weeks, runs rapidly
off in a few hours. That little which
is held back is evaporated by the sun
and heat. 1t would be idle to dwell
on the inestimable Importance OF
well supplied rivers to the country
through which they flow. The en-
tire population dwelling along the
Connecticut down 10 SaybrOok have