The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-30
GOVERNMENT AIDS
PURE WATER FIGHT
Secretary of Agriculture De-
viseS Plan to Protect the
Sources of Supply.
CITIES CAN COOPERATE
Agreement Drawn Provides
for Vigilance on Part of
Forestry Officials.
CITIES CAN COOPERATE

T. II. Clarke. supervisor OF the Wa
ss ten national forests. has received tn
following communication from the offIc
The interests OF cities and towns
which obtain their water from streams
having their watersheds Within ma
tIousl forests call Tor special measures
OF protection. and Secretary Wilson
has therefore developed a plan Of
co operation for the department OF
agriculture with those communities
which arc alive 10 the importance OF
keeping their water supply pure.
There are many western towns and
cities, some of them OF large size.
which derive their water from drain
age ba sins lying inside tue national
forests. one OF tho recognized OBJ
iects OF forestry Is 10 insure the per-
In3uence and protect the purity OF
municipal water supplies As the
OF the public. Secretary Wilson con-
siders il the duty OF Ills department
10 do al that II can both 10 pre-
vent the pollution OF such supplies
and to create or maintain conditions
most favorable 10 a constant flow of
clear water
Sources Of Danger,
Stock raising and occupancy of the
land for the various kinds OF use
which are ordinarily encouraged on
the national forests may be highly
undesirable it allowed on drainage
basins which are the source OF drink
ing water. There Is also TO be con-
sdered the injury which may be doua
If the water is silt-laden. BY pro-
tecting and improving the forest
l. lac, .,y,1
lstious TO minimize erosion and TO
provide for tho maintenance OF sani-
tary conditions. the government viii
try TO safeguard the interests Of the
public,
a form OF agreement has been
drawn UP. providing that, when CO.
operation IL entered into between the
secretary of agriculture and any city
desiring conservation and protection
OF its water supply, the secretary win
not permit the use of the land in
volved without approval by the town
or city except for the protection aud
care Of the forests, marking. cutting
and disposing or timber which the
forest officers find may be removed
without INJURY to the water supply
Of the city or FOR Tho building OF
roads. trails telephone lines. etc. not
Inconsistent with The objects uf the
agreement or for rights OF way ac-
quircd under acts OF congress. The
secretary also agrees TO require all
persons employed on or occupying
any OF tho land both 10 comply with
the regulations governing national
forests and TO observe all sanitary
regulations which the city may pro-
pose and the secretary approve.
Plan Is Cooperative.
The agreement provides FOR the en-
tension and improv ement OF tho for
ests on the part, or the government
by seeding and planting and the best
methods Of silvicuiturc and forest
management. so far as the funds
available Will permit The city on
its side is expected TO assist In tle
work by paying the salaries of the
additional guards necessary TO carry
out the agreement and in case cX-
tensive forest operations arc immed-
,ately desired by the city il would
bear the major part Of the cost en-
tailed by this work