The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04
ARID LANDS.
President Makes stroug Recommendation
for Their Reclamation.

LOT tHsll EeCtdlWatlOu.
On the important subjects Of forestry
and game protection and the Irrigation
and reclamation OF the arid lands OF the
country. the President says:
Public opinion throughout the United
States has moved steadily toward just
appreciation of the value Of forests.
whether planted or Of natural growth.
The great part played by them in the
creation and maintenance OF the national
wealth IS now more fully realized than
L ever before.
Wise forest protection does not mean
the withdrawal OF forest resources,
whether of wood, water or grass. from
contributing their full share to the well
fare of the people, but. on the contrary,
gives the assurance OF larger and moro
certain supplies. The fundamental idea
OF forestry is the p4erpetuation OF for
ests by use. Forest protection Is not an
end of itself; it is means to increase
and sustain the resources of our country
and the industries which depend upon
them. The preservation Of our forests is
an imperative business necessity We
have come to see clearly that whatever
destroys the forest. except to make way
for agriculture. threatens our well-beins.
At present, the protection of the forest
reserves rests with the General Land
Office the mapping and description of
their timber with the United States Geo
logical Survey, and the preparation of
plans for their conservative use With the
|. Bureau OF forestry, which is also charged
with the general advancement or prac-
! tical forestry in the United States. Ihese
various function should be united III the
Bureau o:I7orestry, to which thcy prop
erly belong.
! !: Of h.
reserves will be not less helpful to the
interests which depend on water lhan -
those which depend on wood and grass.
The water supply itself depends upon
the forest In the arid region it is water,
not land. which measures production.
The western half of the United States
would sustain population greater IMAM
that of our whole country to-day II the
waters that now run to waste were saved
and used for irrigation. The forest ana
water p;oblenls are perhaps the most
vital internal questions Of the United
States.
Game Laws.
Certain of the forest reserves should
also be made preserves for the wild Tor
est creat lures. All of the reserves should
be better protected from fires. Many OF
them need snec:ol protection because OF
the great INJURY done by live stock. above
all by sheep The increase in deer. elk.
ana other animals in the Yellowstone
Park shows what may be expected when
other mountain forests are properly pro-
tected by law and properly guarded
Some of these areas nave been 50 de- de-
nuded Of surface vegetation by overgraz-
ing that the ground breeding birds, IN
Guiding grouse and quail, and many NAM
mails. including deer, have been eSter-
minated or driven away. At the same
time the water-stor1ns capacity OF the
surface has been decreased or destroyed
thus promoting floods in times OF ram
and diminishing the flow Of streams pc
tween rains.
The. forests are natural reservoirs. BY
restraining the streams in flood and re-
plenishing them in drought they make
possible the use OF waters otherwise
wasted. They prevent the soil from
washing, and 50 protect the storage
reservoirs from filing I'D with silt. For