Arizona republican., 1899-12-23

under the name of the Forest Reserve Protective Association" for the pur- pose of having the matter fully and fairly presented to the proper author ities, do earnestly request all persons engaged in agricultural pursuits, and everyone interested in the use of water for irrigation, mining, milling or any other purpose. to cooperate with US, and to that end we beg to submit for your consideration the following propositions.
 list. That the forests are the great storage reservoirs established by na- ture, and their decrease diminishes the amount of storage water and pro- portionately decrease the flow of water in the natural streams in the dry season, and their total destruction would nearly. if not absolutely cause the flow of water in such streams to cease altogether. except in time of flood, and the lands reclaimed once more become part of the great Amer ican desert.
 This is not only the conclusion of the interior department from its care ful investigation, but is obvious to the careful man of business, who has taken pains to investigate the matter for himself.
 Wherever numerous f1ocks graze the ground is left bare of vegetation. and the surface is so cut up by the tramping of many hoofs that dust to a great depth covers the whole surface
 This dust being mostly adobe in it's character. becomes like cement when the rains fall and the water instead of soaking into the land, flows off into the streams, bearing with it a large per centage of the soil pulverized by the numerous hOof tracks, filling the chan nels with silt and the water itself, in- stead of being held in reserve, flows quickly to the gulf as flood water, and its usefulness is lost.
 The underbrush and foliage are de- stroyed and the grand old pines of our forest are dying fast because of the fact that they cannot receive mois- ture in sufficient quantities to sustain life through the cement-like cover
 Tn the foothills. over the entire ter ritory, where a few years ago there were numerous springs. giving an abundant flow of water, a large per centage have dried up, while the bal ance, together with the small creeks and streams flowing therefrom, are supplying less water each year. This can only be attributed to the same cause.
 The rainfall, instead of penetrating the ground and coming out in springs, is lost in the flood water, and passes quickly to the sea; and it becomes evil dent that unless a remedy is found for this evil, that not only will our farms return to desert. but the foothills and valleys, which are now covered with numerous herds. and are not only a source of profit to the owner, but of great revenue to the territory, will cease to exist, except in memory.
 '2nd. The prosperity of the territory is in danger. both from an agricultural and grazing standpoint.
 Should the present condition con tinue and the destruction of our for ests go on, during a few years while this process is in progress a few in dividuals may prosper, but even their days of prosperity must soon cease. During that time, however. all other stock industry in the tereitory. out side of the forest, will have ceased.
 Our mills will be shut down, the sage brush will again replace the al falfa fields, and the vast revenue to the territory now accruing from these avocations will be lost, and all this to foster an industry that is of benefit to a few only, but little, if any revenue to the territory, and destructive to every other industry therein.
 It is evident that as you diminish and destroy your water supply you ruin the farmers, miners and the stock grower, and the merchant, mechanic, the banker and all other lines of busi- ness, must of necessity be swallowed in the ruin.
 We earnestly request your hearty cooperation in this matter in the in terests of the masses, and for the greatest good to all, and we request that you secure every signature in your section upon the enclosed peti- ton and return same to the secretary of this association before January 1st, 1900 and take such other steps as you deem best to further this object. Call upon or address our secretary for any information, and kindly inform him of your acts and results.
 Respectfully submitted. JERRY MILLAY, Chairman of the executive committee.
 I'll. M. CHAPMAN,
 Secretary"
 The importance of action to prevent the invasion Of the forests can not be oVerstimated. It is not renewal of the ancient feud between the cattlemen and the sheepmen. Toe association a just formed is composed of men representing every variety of ln- terests dependent upon the prosperity C3It in l. son with which the $2, GOO GOO said to be invested in the northern flOcks, is a bagatelle.
 Professor J. W. Tourney of the divis- ion of forestry, came in on Thursday night from the north where he has been making a personal inspection of the re- serves. He says that the inroads al ready made by stock on the forests have decreased the water supply in the Salt River valley by twenty per cent If the destruction should be per