The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-27


utilization Of water power anafartiHS
slsi storage He shows Tint mo mat
tsr what ths pgtpose or design any
;eeryoir system Developed Ii
soutllsrn &npalachians Is toredoou.saI
to failure unless the Watersheds which
Iced Y are kept under forest. Ii the
is removed. vast Recommendations,
silt and gravel Will be carried down
70 the reservoirs and render them,
sorthless. Moreover, the floods In.
many Of the streams are due to the ex,
?ent to which the forest has been cut
way or burnt. and II the reckless cut.
ing and carelessness with regard to
Ire continues, most OF the great wa.
empower now available viii be los...
The Appalachian Mountains are also
important to navigation, since all the
water gathered by them flows to the
sea In nayigable rivers. The forest is
he one natural factor which tends to.
Haualize the flow OF streams. and with
the forest supplemented by a system
4 reservoirs the depth of many
treains could be materially Increased;
With 50 per cent. OF the Monnnvahela
water subject to storage. the naod.
laniaEe at pitfsburg and Wheeling
would be almost eliminated. with thu
minimum stage Of the Ohio at Wheel
ng Increased by , feet, the coveted
'tage between Plttsbnrg and Cincin.
.'atf would all but be secured. AS the
'eport points out, however. this will
never be accomplished unless steps
ere taken to preserve tho forest cover
II the watersheds and so prevent tho
llllns up OF both reservoirs or streams
With sand and silt washed from the
mountain sides.
The report shows graphically the
condition of the two regions to-day. the
Hopes stripped OF their forest cover,
ne resulting erosion OF the soil. the
fanGer TO agricultural lands and wa.
cr%ays, and the total destruction Of
Genie beauty, Il large asset in many
ecttons. Although only n very small
PORTION Of the T5,00n,0oO acres Of for.
ast lands recommended for acGulsi.
Ion by the government. the report
suggests q plan whereby with the aid.
II the several States and the ca.opera,
Ion Of private owners proper manage.
tlcnt of most of the forest land might
We secured. The creation OF National
Forests, as is pointed out, wifi not In.
'erfere with local industries. but rath.
n 1t will aid them. Government pro
'ection OF the forests would solvo The
irc problem Of the region. It wout.t.
rot hinder mining and prospecting.
and to farming and fruit growing it
you'll, give Il material stimulus. since.
protection OF the higher mountain
''ones would greatly increase tho sate.
IS Of these industries in the valleys
,clow, Nor would National Forests In.
arfere In the slightest degree with
'cttlers who W and cultivate small
arms along the mountain streams. nor
you'll 1t stop the use of the mountnins
or grazing. The many other uses OF
lie mountains would be furthered ratti.
r than hinderei. AMI 10 per cent. Of
il revenues which the government re-
efved from forests would be given
70 the counties In which the forests
we're. The great industries, such aS
the furniture. co.operage, wagon, etc.
which depend upon a supply of huri-
woods. would be benefited incalcula-
bly,, and the vast capital which de-
ponds upon water power would be
made secure.
Taken as n whole. the report marks
7 distinct step forward by outlining
! definite programme for preserving
for continuous Use one of the Nations
,,reatest resources.