New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-10
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WHITE MOUNTAIN RESERVATION
Reasons Why the National Government
Should Have It in Charge.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: A few days ago the writer was surprised
to read an editorial IN The Tribune opposing the
White Mountain Reservation something outside
Of the functions OF the federal government. II
your contention Is correct. then OF the West
ern reserves should have been taken BY tns
government: should Irrigation be done By the
national government But this position Il Is
believed you would assume FOR a moment The
White Mountain Reservation Is too large under
taking for the little state OF New-Hampshire. and
besides does not concern New-Hampshirs alons
II Is strictly interstate and national affair. So-s
one has calculated that at the present rate Of De-
structive consumption forests will be exhausted
IN about fifty years for the beginning OF every year
finds a smaller forest attacked By a larger army
Of axes ana saws. Even row such great States a.
Illinois and Iowa. for example. have their wood
land area reduced to IS per cent and Is per cert
respectively. Unless. therefore. the very near com
Ing generations are to revert 10 the stone age the
national government must continue to eniazss 10
system OK conservative forestry.
Admitting that ought to have national ror-
etry reservations then the next point that inter-
ests US is their location Why should they be. or
rather include mountains? Because nearly all our
great rivers take their rise II the mountains. and
the rivers furnish moisture for the farmers crop
and power cor the manufacturer. II IS not con-
tended here that trees produce rain but aL1er me
vor: il holds back the water BY means Of rs toll
age. humus and roots. and sends II gradusLy % ne
ana strong flow OF current, condition OF vital IN
portancs 10 the farmer and the manufacturer. IN
me case under consideration. the White Mountains
three great rivers. the AndrOScOggt1. the Con
nectf-rt and the Mcrrmac. rise there OF mess
the Nerrimac g. perhaps. most dependent an
most important. IN the four elites. MancnesteI
y H. Lowell Lawrence and HaverhilL Mass,
there are nearly half million OF people odecly
supported BY the power furnished oy the WS''
mac River. ., ,.-.sor
should not be forgotten that the mountain Iofsss 49,
give US the greatest variety or WOODS Noous S-~'
we cannot get along without. 10 the nOI $3.50.
ike man. the birds also flock and the " nlus 1 s
talnS are cOnsDiCUCusly n breeding kroulu ~.
large number OF our inSectvorouS olEgs. N1s 49,
tends TO keep a balance everyWhere II W As a.,
more pests now than formerly that GeSsroy %.
crors IL Is because no longer have tle cIeatus
that DESTROYED the pests. IL IS True WlOns1s IT,
tioD that every decrease IN the army OF Ou. 80
sactfvo~ous birds greater COSY 70 ne Lrf
er 81 every crop subject to pests. Wlthout a.
and mountain forests for breeding grounGs W -,
nor have the birds that nature mas a.-olye. 4,
OrIv recently Congress voted S250N0 % pc ussS
ending n way 20 check the cotton BOIL weeVIL -
possfbIv all that is needed Is to find ana prote-. 20
BIRD that fed on the weevtl and Kept II OO~-
normal numbers .. A.. .Ls orig
rai thirteen states had no land given % tieLtt
ths gOverumeut. and IN that respect nave 80 n
iss= fhar tire new states. For the RoVeTulIi.ssls
br4v me land and establish forest reSeINs, -
one OF the old States is only q steD tewSru W
FItmore n C.. Feb. 8. 1904