Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-24

are favorable to a sustained water
supply.
Since the settlement of the region
the forests have been much reduced
in area, while the conditions or
growth in those that remain have
changed for the worse. Cultivated
land and wood lots have been largely
converted to pasturage, thus inter
fering with the water flow. In some
districts the swamps and fields have
been artificially drained.
Decrease in Rainfall.
Since 1885 the rainfall has decreas-
ed. This loss has probably lessened
slightly the volume of the river flow.
The fluctuations in the flow, however,
have been caused by artificial drain
age and by changes in the forest con
ditions of the region. Of these the
latter is probably the most important
cause.
Forests diminish the loss of water
by evaporation from the ground. In
France it has been found that in
the summer five times as much water
is evaporated outside of the forest
as within it, Against this must be set
off the slight loss of water which is
intercepted in falling by the leaves of
the trees, and evapOrated without
ever reaching the ground, and the
consumption of water by the trees for
their own needs. 1t is doubtful, how
ever. whether the loss from the latter
cause is not greater in the case of
field crops than in the forests. On the
whole. it is safe to say that a larger
proportion of the precipitation gets
ultimately into the streams from a
forest covered region than one that is
interested.
UnfavOrabIe Effect on Stream.
Forests exert a very important in
f1uence in equalizing the stream flow.
Snow melts mpre slowly in the woods
than on open ground, and the water
holding capacity of forest soil retards
the run-off of both rain and snow
water The reduction which has
taken place in the area of the forest
ed land in the Rock river region has
therefore had an unfavorable effect
on the streams.
That part of the original forest
which still remains has undergone n
change in character. Cutting and
pasturing have produced an open
growth. One result of this is the
greater evaporation. Another result
| is deterioration in the character of
the soil and a consequent loss of
moisture holding capacity. Grass and
weeds have entered. and the absorb
ton by a growing soil cover has been
increased. Changes in stream flow
have therefor resulted from the
changed conditions of the forest which
remains, as well as from the loss of
that which has disappeared.
Improvement in the flow of Rock
river depends on the practicability of
storing the water which falls in rain
and snow so that it may be discharged
in an even and constant volume. Oae
possible method of accomplishing this
is through the agency of artificial
reservoirs. The question is whether
the pecuniary benefit which would be
gained would be great enough to pay
for the land which would have TO be
required and the dams which would
have to be built This is for the IN
terests affected to decide. 1t is pure
~ private and business question,
which need not be discussed here.
Improve woodland.
Another possible method of equaliz-
ing the flow is through the agency of
forest growth. The present condition
is largely the result of forest destruc-
ton and forest deterioration inciden-
tai to the agricultural development
of the regimen. In this case, there
fore, the question becomes, can it be
shown to land owners in this region
that it would pay them individually
to have large part of their farms
timbered, or to improve the character
of their woodland?
1t is believed that the present con-
dition of the average wood lot in this
region is such that the owners are now
suffering an actual loss for consider
able part of their value, and the area
now wooded might often be extended
with a resulting clear profit to the
farm. It is further believed that this
added return may be secured by any
one of ordinary intelligence and en-
terprise, without expert assistance
and without the outlay of capital or
any expenditure other than that of a
little time and forethought. 1t is in
order to show this to practical farm
ers that the latter part of this report
has been prepared, and it is earnestly
hoped that it will receive the careful
attention of those who are interested
in lettering themselves, but have not
as yet given much thought to the pos
sibilities of the wood lot, which is, af-
ter ALL so important a part of good
farm.
The bulletin contains many practi-
cal suggestions and will be found of
value to those interested in the sub
10 If