The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-07
SENATOR DEPEW
ON FOREST RESERVE

grown in temperate. semi-tropical and
tropical countries There are 49, varie-
Ties making This forest one of TIT. most
interesting in the world The deep soil
has been forming for a thousand years
OF more. and in its inteTIacing Of tree
roots and aumUs. of grass and leaves.
there has been created n enormous
sponge for the ABSORPTION retention.
and distribution of the rainfall
Great Degree of Rainfall.
The rainfall in this region is greater
than in any other part of the United
states except the north Pacific Coast
t ranges from so to 100 inches a year.
The downpour at one time during ths
past year was thirty inches Where the
forests are intact the water finds its
way through this thick and porous soil.
goes into the crevices of the rocks and
into the guIches and forms springs and
rivuiCts- Nature, always bcnedccnt in
her operation. so arranges this vast col
lection OF the rainy season that during
-he rest of the year It flows out natu-
rally and equally through the rivuiets
into the streams and through the
streams into the rivers. and waters and
tcrtiIizes half a dozen States
The results Of an attack upon tbs
fortress created by nature for the pro
lection and enrichment of the people IS
more disastrous than the sweep of an
invading army of savaEes over thick
y populated and fertile country They
Sill they carry off Captives. they burn
and they destroy. but after the war the
survivors return TO their homes and IN
q few years every vestge of the ruin
has disappeared IN its place there are
again cities. villages. and happy people
But the IumbeTman selects a tract Of
haTdOCd forests upon the Appala-
chan Mountains. The trees. young and
old. big and little surrender to the az
and the saw. Then the soil is sold TO
the farmer. who finds abundant haTvests
in It's pTimevaI richness. For about
three years he gathers q remuncrative
and satisfactory harvest. but he sees, as
the enormous rainfall descends. his farm
gradually disappear. At the end OF
three years he can no longer plant
crops but for two years more If lucky
he NAV be able 10 Craze his stock At
the end of five years the rains and floods
have washed clean the mountain sides
have LETT nothing but the bare rocks
have reduced his farm to a desert. and
created a ruin which can never be re
paired
Would Devastate Great Country.
This destruction cannot be repeated
many years without turning into
desert the fairest portion OF our coun-
try
1t has beer estimated that there isl
in these mountain streams 1000 900
horsepower which can be easily utfI-|
lied. This means a saving OF $4,000 -00G
q year in coal alone, which would other
wise have to be used for the generation
OF that amount Of power for manufact-
URN purposes But II. means more
This 1000 goo horsepower that these
streams. which flow equally ali the year
round because OF the nature Of the
sponge which form the reservoir that
supplies them. would create an meal
c.ilabIe amount Of electrical power
with the successful demonstrations
VIZ :asve been made in California and
Niagara Falls OF the distance 10 which
this energy can be transmitted the
value Of these streams kept in their
original condition. TO the future Of these
States cannot be estimated There are
IN these conditions all the elements
necessary for transportation Tor light
and heat. for manufactures and mining
IN q very large section Of the United
States
Appropriation Of sIo,ooo,ooo.
The proposition in The bill is TO au-
thorize the Secretary Of Agriculture. al
an expanse not exceeding $1,000. 900. to
purchase 100000 acres Of these for
esrs. Tiey are held now in large tracts
o: from 1900 TO 5000 acres. They are
being rapidly bought uD By lumber com
paHies at from $50 TO s. an acre. The
owners. as / am informed. would much
Irefer selling them 10 the Government
than 10 individuals or corporations The
reason is obvious. It is estimated by
the Department Of Agriculture that
within i've years the forests would be
self-sustaining. and after that a source
OF Increasing revenue for all time 10
come
1t IS impossible for The States to IN
dertake this work. New York. IN order
10 protect the Hudson and Mohawk. has
teen purchasing large domain through
the Adirondack forests which she pro
poses adding TO every year. This IS
possible because the whole territory is
within the limits Of the State Of New
York. But in the Appalachian region one
State cannot buy the forest sources. OF
the streams. because they are ia an
other State. The State which has the
forests cannot be expected 10 20 70 the
expense OF protecting them in order to
preserve the streams and agriculture
and Industries Of adjoining Common
yscelths-
Government Must Do the Work.
TO sum Up briefly. then. this is
work which only can De done by tie Gov
eminent Of the United States II should
be done by the Government because # /
interests many States and in large
way the people OF The whole country.
It preserves the hardwood forests and
their product for future generations. I'll
keeps upon The hills sud mountain sides
The woods whose influence upon climate.
soil and rainfall IS most beneficial to
VAST territory. Il prevents mountain
torrents which viii ID time. as the de-
strHcriou Of the forests goes On. turn
a large agricultural region into a desert. /
i cUuscrves for manufacturing purposes
that enormous water power which viii
5e utilized for multitude Of industries
which viii give employment 20 thou
sands and add enormously 10 the wealth
~ The COUNTRY Instead Of being an ex-
gc=Ee and o GTaIu-aui il would Lc The