The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-12-26

iamber cus lisa Fallen fl ofef u per
oens ana lbs ~ he faes ~ ~ UMPIRE
utieulsd sss,aAnd. Daring he same
period The uhAlrso1c Brirrs 81 bard
mea,d lumber Adt4ncrd from 81 70 a
pr ceui a liberal ssiimsls gives ihr
Remaining siand u bsriwocds u the
country Al sfg bilhon feet, enough 70
last tor 0nly 10 years The report then
pSints oui thai 4 i the Appalachian
regon, where ss.U..uo are primarily
adapted - The production u hardwood
lumber. 10 which The hardwood'asing
industries mnsl lock for future sup
plies. Il shows that under right man.
agsmeni ,hesc n. 0o, 600 acres can pro
dace each year three billion cubic fee,
/ Of wood, about equal 70 the present
consumption Of hardwood timber for
Al purposes II the Appalaehians are
taken soon enough, the Secretary
points out. and are rightly handled,
they can be made 10 produce contin-
nously three. iourths IT the hardwood
supply Of the country, and this without
exhhusiing the forests. but. in fact, i'm.
proving them.
Concerning water supply, the report
brings ont some entirely new facts,
I Based on the lowest two weeks IN the
year. il states that under present con.
dilions the streams Of the Southern
Appalaehians afford a minimum OF e
FAC, 600 horse power. Development Of
the storage facilities OF streams would
increase this from three 10 thirty times.
Al least 90 per cent. OF the minimum
horsepower is available for economic
development. On this basis, the report
says. the rental Of 800, 0oO horsepower
at $50 per annum is worth So 900, 900
per year. In the same way, II there is
added the possible revenue from the 10
per cent. Of power which is present for
only half the year, the total rs brought
to So, 000, 900. After pointing out what
tremendous factor this vast water
power is in the future industrial deyel-
opment of the United States and how
much New England depends upon the
power given by the streams which rise
in the White Mountains, Secretary
Wilson goes on to show what vital
relation the forest bears 10 successful
utilization of waterpower and artificial
storage. He shows that no matter
what the purpose or design. any reser-
voir system developed in the Southern
Appalachans is foredoomed to failure
unless the watersheds which feed itare
kept under forest II the forest is re-
moved. vast Accommodations of silt and
gravel will be carried down 10 the res
ervoirs and render them worthless.
Moreover, the floods in many of the
streams are due 10 the extent to which
the forest has been cut away or burnt,
and il the reckless emitting and care.
lessness with regard To fire continues,
most of the great water-power now
available will be lost
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
the one natural factor which tends to
equalize the flow of streams, and with
the forest supplanted by a system OF
reservoirs the depth OF many streams
could be materially increased. With
IS per cent. of the Monongahela water
subject to storage, the flood damage at
Pittsburg and Wheeling would be al
most eliminated. With the minimum
stage OF the Ohio at Wheeling increas
ed by three feet, the coveted stage be-
tween Pittsburg and Cincinnati would
all be secured. As the report points
out, however, this will be accom-
plished unless steps are taken TO pre-
serve the forest cover Of the watersheds
and so prevent the filing up of both
reservoirs or streams with sand and silt
washed from the mountain sides.
The report shows graphically the con-
dition Of the two regions today, the
slopes stripped Of their forest cover,
the resulting erosion Of the soil, the |
danger to agricultural lands and high
ways, aud the total destruction OF
scenic beauty, large asset in many |
sections. Although only very small
portion of the $1,000, 600 acres of fore st
lard is recommended for acquisition by |
the Government, the report suggests a
plan whereby with the aid of the sew
eral States and the cooperation ofpri-
vate owners proper management OF
most OF the forest lands might be secur
ed. The creation Of National Forests,
as is pointed out, will not interfere
with local industries, but rather il will
aid them. Government protection OF
the forests would solve the fire problem
OF the region. Ii would not hinder min
ing andprospeciing, and 10 farming and
fruit growing il would give a material
stimulus. since protection OF the higher
mountain slopes would greatly increase
the safety Of these industries in the val
leys below. Nor would National For
ests interfere in the slightest degree
with settlers who own and cultivate
small farms along the mountain
streams, nor would il stop the use Of
the mountains for grazing. The many
other uses Of the mountains would be
fnrtbered rather than hndered, and 10
per cent Of all revenues which the
received from the Forests
would be given 10 the counties IN which
the Forests were. The great indus
tries. such AS the furniture. eooperage,
wagon. etc, which depend upon a sup
ply Of hardwoods, would be benefited
aud the vast capital which
depends upon water power would be
made secure.
Z