The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-22

The conservation or OUR mountain
forests. as In the Appalachian system.
is a national necessity. These forests
are required to aid In the regulation
of streams used for navigation and
other purposes The conservation of
these forests is impracticable through
private enterprise alone, by any state
alone or by the federal government
alone. Effective and immediate CO.
operation between these three agencies
is essential. Federal ownership of linn
tied protective areas upon important
watersheds, effective state fire patrol
and the cooperation Of private forest
owners are all required.
The true remedy for unwise tax
laws lies not in laxity in their applica-
ton nor in special exemption, but In a
change In the method Of taxation. An
annual tax upon the land itself, ex-
elusive OF the value Of the timber. and
tax upon the timber when cut are
well adapted to actual conditions of
forest investment aud are practicable
and certain. 1t is far better that for
est land should pay a moderate tax
an excessive revenue temporarily and
then cease to pay at all.
Forests in private ownership cannot
be conserved unless they are protected
from fire. We need good fire laws.
well enforced. Fire control is impossi-
BILE without an adequate force Of men
whose sole duty is fire patrol during
the dangerous season.
The conservative use OF the forest
will not be general until they learn
how to pactice forestry.
We shall suffer for timber to meet
our needs until our forests have had
time to grow again. But II we act
vigorously and Mt once we shall es-
cape permanent timber scarcity.
Waters.
The sole source OF our fresh water
Is rainfall, including snow. From this
source all running. standing and
ground waters are derived. The hab-
liability Of the country depends on
tASsC "ulClS. ool
fall is about thirty inches. the quantity
about 215 1000. 1000. 600 cubic feet per
year, equivalent to ten Mississippi riv-
ers
OF the total rainfall over half is
evaporated, about third flows into
the sea, and the remaining sixth is Ell
Their consumed or absorbed. These
yoxJ
lively the 6y-ofr, the run-off and the
cutoff. They are partly interchange
able. About a third of the run-off. or
n tenth Of the entire rainfall, passes
through the Mississippi. The run-off
is increasing with deforestation ard
cultivation.
Of the 7o.o0o,o0O, oo0. 600 cubic feet
annually flowing into the sea less than
per cent is restrained and utilized for
municipal and community supply. Less
than 2 per cent Tor some 10 per cent
Of that in the arid and semiarid re-
gions) is used for irrigation. Perhaps
5 per cent is used for navigation and
less than per cent for power.
For municipal and community water
supply NACAC dIC PAolCSNCu
areas aggregating over 600.OO acres,
and over S25O.O0O.OOO are invested in
waterworks. with nearly as much
more in the appurtenant catchment
areas and other lands. The popula-
ton so supplied approaches 100000.
and the annual consumption is about
$500, oOO,OOO cubic feet. The better
managed systems protect the catch
ment areas by forests and grass. The
water is controlled and the storm
product used. but there is large waste
after the water enters the mains.
For irrigation it is estimated that
there are S2oO,O0O.OoO invested in
dams. bitches. reservoirs and other
works for the partial control of the
waters and that 1850, 600 O00, 600 cubic
feet are annually diverted to irrigible
lands, aggregating some 10000 square
miles. Except In some cases through
forestry, few catchnent areas are con-
trolled and few reservoirs are large
enough to hold the storm waters. The
waste in the public and private prof.
ects exceeds GO per cent, while no more
than 25 per cent of the water actually
available for irrigation CT the arid
lands is restrained and diverted.
None Of our rivers are navigated to
more than small fraction even of
their effective low water capacity.
The water power now in use is
$3.50, 600 horsepower: the amount run
ming over government dams and not
used is about 1.40o,Oo horsepower;
the amount reasonably available equals
or exceeds the entire mechanical pow
er now in use or enough to operate
every mill. drive every spindle, propei
every train aud boat and light every
city, town and village in the country.
While the utilization Of water power
ranks among our most recent and most
rapid Industrial Developments. little
effort has been made to control catch
ment areas or storm waters In any
large way for power, though most
plants effect local control through res
ervoirs and other works. Nearly all
the freshet and food water runs to
waste. and the low waters which limit
the efficiency OF power plants are IN
creasing in frequency and duration
with the increasing Hood run OF. The
direct yearly damage by foods since