The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-02-13

. fact has been presented which In az
: way sustains 1t. The so-called argl
] ments set forth in the publication
J have just referred TO are the stool
in-trade phrases of those who nee
J the theory, and who are willing an
anxious to lead the people 10 supper
J 1t without giving reliable reasons fo
so doing.
i do not deny that forests have a
influence on the How OF streams Il
certain localities. We do know tina
n IL requires large volume OF waite
to support forest and the waite
taken up by trees Is all dissipated 4,
theair. The water belongs to tbs
people OF Wyoming. Why should lh,
state not charge the government iol
the water needed to support tn,
| forests?
Any man desiring to satisfy himself
relative to actual conditions should
camp on our mountain ranges during
spring and summer season. Those
who have accepted the theory OF the
bureau Of forestry without question
will be surprised to find that the
foods OF destructive nature come
from the SHOWS which fall on the for
ested areas. These foods carry drift
which damages irrigation works and
lall other structures along our
streams. The observer will be able
to satisfy himself that no snow re-
mains in forested areas ate the ilrst
OF August, and that no water OF SUI.
llcient volume TO be measured, comes
ffrom such areas after that date.
They will lind further that practical.
ly all OF the late waters comes from
regions above timber-line. Trees
break the winds and. the snow which
falls lies In blanket. Ii evaporates
from the branches OF the trees with
the return Of warm weather, and
melts on the ground anu the water
runs away In single week or two,
causing our high and dangerous
waters. Vegetation has but little
chance. TO grow where the rock Is con
stantly disintegratine. aud where the
water precolates rapidly into the
ground. On these SLOPES the wind
has an unbroken sweep and great
drifts are deposited. These drifts
melt slowly and furnish much OF the
late water. whether they be located
above or below timber-line.
Not being satisfied with placing
the burden Of administration OF for
est reserves on local people, IL is now
that charge should be
made for all water hat comes from
the reserves. The money received Is
to go TO the bureau, which will en-
able 1t to pay more men TO police
more forest reserves, SO that the
more fees can he collected TO admin. |
lster other reserves and so on with. |
)ut end. This policy Is Endorsed 10y
bureau chiefs regardless OF the fact
that their theory OF forest conserya.
tism OF the water has not been SUBJ
stantiated by scientific data; and In |
lace OF the provision OF the constitu.
ton OF Wyoming ratified by congress,
which reserves ownership and control |
Jf the water within boundaries 10 the |
state. Section /, Article VIII, OF |
bhe constitution, reads
1.-The water OF ali natural streams.
springs, lakes or other collections OF |
'till water, within the boundaries OF |
he state, are hereby declared TO be |
he property OF the state"
Section 81, Article /, Of the con.
'tituti0n, reads.
"Water being essential TO industri.
n prosperity, OF limited amount and |
Easy .of diversion from It's natural
fits control must he I'm tile
state, which, In providing for its
Use, shall equally guard all the vari.
,us interests involved. "
IL water users can be charged for
water which runs from forest re.
eryes 1t is probable that settlers Nv
ng to leeward of such reserves will
n a short time, be .obliged to pay
he forest seryice.for the shelter tbey
nay receive from the winds. This
would tie more logical, In the light OF
'ur present knowledge, than charge
or water supposed TO be conserved.
The people II the West luve trees.
However, they have greater love
or mankind. A forest should be
lsed TO benefit the race 10 the great
ST possible extent. II can be repro.
inced In Is years, hence IL should |
lever be permitted to restrict any
business which has grown up only
through the exertioD OF .the people |
or generation.
When we study conditions We find
hat waste OF those natural resources,
which belong to the people. has thus
ar taken place under national stat
ties. These great bureaus advertise
through their various mediums that
lur natural resources have already |
zen wasted In large degree. They
,stimate that the coal and oil. the
nm haK md auar ,K..tfo