The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-21
ROCK. RIVER DRYING UP
BECAUSE FORESTS ARE CUT
Destruction Water Supply Found
Bulletin Says Solution
Refreshing Portions Of Cut Areas.

would thereby be gained would warrant
the purchase of the necessary lands and;
the construction Of the reservoirs.
Refreshing Solution OF Problem.
BY far the more interesting proposition,
however, is that of reforesting the cut
over areas. The present condition being
very largely the result of forest destruc-
ton and forest deterioration, incidental
to- the agricultural development Of the
region, a restoration. at least in
part, Of this denuded area is the
solution suggested by the government ex-
perts The bulletin says on this. point:
1T Is believed that the present condi-
ton of the average wood lots OF this re-
gion Is such that the owners are now SUI
fering an actual loss of a considerable part
of their value, and that the. area now
wooded might often be extended with a
resulting clear profit to the farms. It is
| further believed that this added return
may be secured by anyone OF ordinary In
telligence and enterprise, without expert
assistance and without the outlay Of CAPT
| tai or any expense other than that Of a
| little time and forethought.'
That there Is q very practical side te
the question, and one of interest in every
state where there are cut-over areas OF
country, Is to be seen In the fact that the
basin of this one small Wisconsin river
comprises 1856 square miles of territory
tInes farmers living IN IA1S area are al.
!, rectly interested in the question of a watel
supply, as well as the manufacturers who
have mills upon the banks OF the river
LAS the work of denudation has gone on
not only have the wooded areas dimin-
Iishcd. but significant changes have taker
place In the conditions of growth. Orig
inally the forest contained a natural I'M
/ dergrowth of herbs, moss, tree, Seeding.
and shrubs, which preserved the moisture
and aided in the format ton OF a rich recep
tive mould, but many Of the farm wood.
have now only q dense mating Of grass.
To show in a definite way the extent t
which this rich region has been robbed o
/ Its: legitimate supply OF water. the follow
! ing figures, taken from the bulletin, are o
value: 81 ss
Rainfall for Four-year Period.
I For the four years ending December
4 1888, the total precipitation in inches wa,
1923 3; for the next four years, 124; for TIL
next. 11S.1; for the next, 1875. while 70
the two completed years, 1901-1902. tn
rainfall was only 56.1 inches. On tn
point Of the soil cover. q point Of parttcu
lar interest in Minnesota, the bulletin say
that the changes which have taken plac
d in the forest have not been Injurious 8
Z much from any lack Of rainfall resultin
from the decreasing, but because Of tn
4 very decided effect of decreasing upo
q the evaporation and the distribution Of tn
4 rain after it has fallen. Attention 4
called to the vast forest removals In Min
lnesota and Michigan. which may have re
Isulted In an actual diminution Of tn
amount OF water falling. and the bulleti
"a says it is conceived that the extensiy
alteration Of these areas, notwithstanding
their remoteness. has had some slight in
i lduence in diminishing the rainfall In tn