Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-23

forests does not average more than
~ cubic feet per acre. This gives
total yearly growth of less than T.
O0,o00,0o0 cubic feet.
We have 200,000,000 acres of mature
forests, In which yearly growth is bal
anced by decay; 100000 900 acres part
ly cut over or burned over, but re-
stocking naturally with enough young
growth to produce merchantabie
crop, and y10o,o00,0oo acres cut over
and burned over. upon which young
growth Is lacking or too scanty to
make merchantable timber.
We take from our forests yearly, in
Guiding waste in logging and in man
ufacture. 23,000,000.000 cubic feet OF
wood. We usA each year 5000 900
cords of firewood; 4O.oOo,00o, 900 feet
of lubber:. more, than 1,0o0,000,o00
posts, poles and fence rails; 11s,oooooo
hewn ties; -, 5oo.0o0.ooo slaves;
over 11S,0oo,oo0 sets of head
ing; nearly 5oo.ooo,ooo barrel hoops:
100000 cords of native pulp wood
l65.Oo0,000 cubic feet OF round mine
timbers, and 1,250,oo0 cords of wood
for distillation.
Since 1870 forest fires have destroy
ed Q yearly average Of 80 lives and
Sboo00,000 worth of timber. Not less
than 5o,000,0o0 acres OF forest Is burn
ed over yearly The young growth
destroyed by fire Is worth far more
than the merchantable timber burned.
The true remedy for unwise tax
laws lies not n laxity in their applica-
ton nor In special exemption, but In
change In the method Of taxation.
annual tax upon the land itself. ex-
elusive of the value of the timber. and
tax upon the timber when cut. is
we'll adapted to actual conditions OF
forest investment, and 10 practicable
and certain. 1t Is far better that for
| al a dnr t0 turr
permanently that that 1t should pay
an excessive revenue temporarily and
then cease to pay at all.
Forests In private ownership can
not be conserved unless they are pro-
tected from fire. We need good fire
impossible without an adequate force
Of men whose sole duty Is fire patrol
during the dangerous season.
The conservative use of the forest
and Of imber by American ciizens will
not be general until they learn how
to practice forestry, Through vig-
orous national campaign in education.
body Of American citizenship The
basis already exists upon which to
build structure of forest conserva-
ton which will endure. This needs
the definite commitment of state gov
ernments and the Federal Government
W lneiT lIlIleTeul uuIy VI tedCiiihS Liz
people how to care for their forests.
The final responsibility both for In
vestigative work in forestry and for
making its results known rests upon
the States and upon the nation.
By reasonable thrift, we can produce
a constant timber supply beyond our
present need, and with 1t conserve the
usefulness of our streams for irriga-
ton. navigation, and power.
Under right management, our for
ests will yield over four times as much
as now. We can reduce waste In the
woods and in the mill at least one
third, with present as well as future
stores industry. Preservative treat
ment will reduce by one-fifth the
quantity Of timber used In the water
or In the ground We can practically
stop forest fires at a cost yearly OF
one fifth the value of the merchan-
table timber burned.
We shall suffer for timber to meet
our needs until our forests have had
time to grow again. But II we act
vigorously, and at 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 wates are derived. The habit
ability of the country depends on these
waters Our mean annual rainfall is
about 80 inches; the quantity about
215, 900 000, 100000 cubic feet per year,
equivalent to ten Mississippi rivers.
or the total rainfall, over half Is
evaporated;. about third flows into
the sea: the remaining sixth is either
consumed or absorbed. There por-
tions are sometimes called, respective
ly, the fy-off. the run-off, and the
cutoff. They are partly interchange
able. About third Of the run loft, or
a tenth of the entire rainfall, passes
through the Mississippi. The run-off
is increasing with deforestation and
cultivation.
or the 10000, 900, 100000 cubic feet
annually flowing into the sea. less
than / per cent is restrained and util-
tied for munipical and community sup
ply; less than 2 per cent Tor some 10
per cent of that in the arid and semi
perhaps 8 per cent Is used for navigh-
ton. and less than 5 per cent for
power.
For irrigation It is estimated that
there are s20o,0o0o00 invested in dams
bitches, reservoirs, and other works
for the partial control of the waters:
and that 1900, 100000 cubic feet are
annually diverted to irrigable lands,
aggregating some 10000 square miiea
Some Of the Requisites.
The first requisite for waterway inn
provement is the control of the waters
In such manner as to reduce and reg
ulate the regimen of the navigable riv-
ers. The second requisite is develop
ment of terminals and connections In
such manner as to regulate commerce.
In considerig the uses ad benefits to
be derived from the waters. the para
mount use should be water supply;
next should follow navigation In humid
regions and irrigation In arid regions.
The development OF power on tho
navigable and source streams should
be coordinated with the primary and
secondary uses Of the waters. Other
things equal, the development Of pow
er should be encouraged. not only to
reduce the drain on other resources.
but because properly designed reser-
yoirs and power plants retard the run
off and SO aid In the control OF the
streams for navigation and other uses.
Broad plans should be adopted pro.
Mding for a system of waterway i'm.
provement extending to all uses OF the
waters and benefits to be derived from
their control, including the clariflca.
tion of the water and abatement OF
foods for the benefit of navigation:
tho extension Of Irritation. the dpyel-