Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-22
FLOODS NOT DUE
TO DEFORESIATION
ARMY ENGINEER OFFERS STRONG
EVIDENCE 70 SUPPORT
THIS DOCTRINE.
FOREST PRESERVATION DEsIR-
AISLE BUT PEOPLE SHOULD
NOT BE FOOLED.

engineer United States army, con-
tributes To the Wheeling Register an
important article on the influence OF
forests on floods. Professor Willis L.
Moore. head of the weather bureau,
claims that the removal of forests
does not necessarily intensity our
great floods The Register editorially
asserted that he had not succeeded in
convincing any of the recognized au-
thoritie., OF the soundness of his the
ory. The editorial quotes from the
Outlook as follow The experience
OF the ages has crystallized this com
mon knowledge into the common be-
lief that beyond question forests do
influence stream flow.
Il wish 10 raise my voice against
these two statements" declares Cap
tain Alstaetter Il contend that the
experience of the ages has not given
this belief to everyone, and ! also
contend that the best authorities
agree with Professor Moore and not
with Mr. Clifford Pinchot. The ques-
ton of how much forests affect stream
flow is too big one for me to go into
at this time, but | would like to state
that the contention between the two
parties in this case Is concerned prin-
cipally with the effect of forests on
floods in large navigahie' streams and
not on floods in small branches.
Referring to the claim concerning
the experience OF the ages, the only
way to refute that would be 10 re-
peat all the records available. / have
read hundreds of pages of such rec.
ords which could not be repeated
here, and they most certainly do not
indicate what the Outlook contends as
far as ! have been able to discover.
and there are many engineers of
prominence who can not find this
proof ] wish to call attention to the
fact that the belief common nowadays
In this country regarding the effect Of
forests on stream flow has been
spread through popular publications
and not through scientific ones, and
il is believed ls.gely by people who
have given the matter only passins
attention. The scientific world neither
in this country nor abroad has ever
accepted this theory. The broad
statement that so and so is the ex.
perience OF mankind given without
proof Is typical forestry argument.
end Is meant for popular consump-
ton
Referring now toefhe question OF
no authority agreeing with Professor
Moore 1t is pertinent to ask who the
authorities are and which of them
agree with Mr.. Pinchot II q patient
wanted TO know the value of a Ger.
tain patent medicine would he ask
the man who was interested in sell
ing the patent medicine or would he
ask his doctor who was studying to
Keep patients well regardless OF
methods? Similarly If you want to
know about what caused the floods,
would you ask Mr.. Pinchot. ex-chief
CT the forestry bureau, who Is anxious
10 plant all the trees he can, or would
sou ask Professor Moore, chief of the
weather bureau, which department
for years has conducted the matter OF
forecasting floods. md which in this
work has been compelled to study
everything which caused the floods.
You might also be inclined to ask the
| corps OF engineers of the United
States army, whose business is the
Improvement of nayigable streams,
which is vitality affected by the mum
her and height Of the various floods
/ and necessarily studies them. The
weather bureau and corps of enginr
GERS have no axe to grind except that
| IL trees would ameiorate floods IL
would be a great advantage TO the
corps Of engineers. and great as.
sistance to them in their work TO have
them planted tE great numbers. The
corps end the weather bureau both
wart To reduce foods but they have
30 interest in trees except for the
results that may be derived from
them.
Il have read Professor Moore's
pamphlet, written at the request OF
the committee Of agriculture Of the
house OF representatives and no one
can read it without realizing that he
Is reading the results OF the close
study Of learned and scientific man
II Mr. Pinchot has ever written any.
thing as thorough and learned | never
saw II, and have read most matters
IN this regard that have come out in
recent years
Referring to the authorities further.
Captain Alstaetter says that If there
IS one Of the $50 officers of the corps
Of engineers who ip his Gay and gen.
GRAFTON believes that forests ought
to be planted 20 alleviate extreme
goods or 10 improve anyigs ion one
Of Mr.. Plnchots arguments. he has
never heard OF him About a wear
ago Lieutenant Colonel Chittendeu.
corps Of engineers United States
army, wrote a mastery article on this
subject Ehlch was presented 10 the
American society Of engineers and,
with the discussions. occupied aaort
200 pages. Ills contentious are quite
~ line with those Of Professor Aoole.
apd be has recently been made q
brigaafer general for his excellent
services for the government Of which
none were more brilliant nor more
conspiclions than his recent publlca-
ION 81 BaIgrand El.1.ro.a. nr...lr,e.e.-