Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-03-21
CONGRESSMAN Hooo
AND FOREST RESERVES

gave notice that he desired to investi-
gate some OF the proposed forest re-
serves-to see if the land set aside
was really advantageous in way Of
preserving snow and furnishing wa
ter later in the season. This state
ment has been misconstrued by many,
especially by Durango paper The
Herald has never taken II that Mr.
Hogg would countenance opposition to
a reserve that furnished the desired
protection and would carefully look
into every detail before taking a stand
In this connection the Pueblo Chief
tain OF the 10th contains the follow
ing special, being letter from Con.
gressman Hogg on the question and it
will be of interest to our readers:-
WASHINGTON. March 17-Repre-
sentative Hogg has taken up in ear
nest the study of the forest reserve
question with particular reference to
Colorado. and his activity in this di-
rection has aroused considerable in
terest among afficials OF the interior
department in Washington and those
in Colorado.
He recently received letter from
an official in Colorado who went into
quite an exhaustive explanation of the
forest reserve proposition in this
state and who argued in favor of the
extension of the system on the ground
that it conserved the water supply.
and for other reasons,
While Mr. Hogg is not opposed to
forest reserves in general, he never
theless believes that they should not
be created without considerable in
yestigation and consideration of the
local conditions involved.
In reply to the letter above men.
toned. Mr. Hogg said:
Il am In receipt of yours of the 4th
instant relative to forest reserves es-
tablished for the purpose of consery-
ing the water supply of the arid re
gion. | am sorry that | cannot agree
with your main contention.
81 am well aware that considerable
study has been given to this subject
by professional men, and so far as the
theory is concerned they seem to be
somewhat unanimous in their conclu-
sions
They. however, see but one side OF
the question, and that is that forests
in the Rocky mountain region, at
least, ere mainly valuable on account
OF the retention of snow. thereby pro
longing. as 1t is alleged the period OF
irrigation.
THE trouble with you gentlemen is
that you see but one phase of the sub
ject, and do not. it seems to me con
slider the many and varied interests
that are dependent upon lumber and
the supply of timber in the successful
operation thereof The great objec.
ton that | have to the present. and
prospective administration of forest
reserves, is that so far there has been
an utterly reckless withdrawal oi
lands valuable for agricultural and
grazing purposes which. in no sense
conserves the water supply of any sec
ton of the country. In support of this
statement 1 suggest to you what
know to be a fact. that none of the
forests below 5000 feet altitude. to
any extent, conserve the water supply
after the first of July. Take it where
the yellow pine grows, which Is of but
sparse growth as you know. all snow
has disappeared ordinarily by the mid
die of April or the first of May. 1t
may be true that the thick. heavy
spruce forests higher up may, to some
extent. have the effect that you sug
gest. but | doubt even there that the
ordinary use of these forests for min
ing and other purposes can, TO an eX-
tent that is at all appreciable, inter
fere with the flow of water. | have
lived west of the range for some %
years, and have been quite familiar
with the condition of the streams in
that section of Colorado, and while ol
late years there has been a somewhat
lessened supply OF water. it has been
due solely. in my judgment. to the fact
that for three or four years we had
very light fall of snow in the noun
tains in December and January on ac-
count OF which in many instances that
| know. many springs originating in
the mountains themselves and not
from any surface flow have gone dry.
1T is the early SHOWS that furnish
the water supply for this reason. The
snow that falls, say in December and
January, forming in drifts and through
avalanches or slides filling the gulches
in the mountains near and above tim
Der line, is hardened SO that 1t almost
becomes ice, and remains In place all
summer. not having disappeared unit
new snow falls, The snow of Febru'
ary and later, not having the chance
to solidify. passes of rapidly in the
spring and can be counted of but lit
tie value for the later flow OF water
Anyone familiar with mining knows
that the mountains, as rule, with the
ordinary snow fall In the winter. filled
with water through the different crew
ices and become thereby natures res
ervoirs emptying themselves through
springs and not being subject to evap
Grafton the water is much better con
served than any water you might col
lect in a foot or Ave feet of soil on the
surface. The unwatering OF the mines
af Crinnle Creek which Is n SOmewh hai