ii8 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



wealtli. There is no other contribution which they are cajjable of 

 making that will compare, both directly and indirectly, with their 

 forest growth. 



Experience has abundantly shown that the natural selfishness of 

 man leads him to excesses in the utilization of forest products. His 

 tendency is not only to consume a j)roduct equal to the growth of his 

 own time, but to make large inroads upon the future. He is profli- 

 gate in the use of wood, often leaving all but the very best to decay 

 upon the ground or to become fuel for forest fires. 



The justification for our forest reservations should not, however, 

 be based entirely upon their value in conserving timber. They have, 



Excessive, Unrestricted and Indiscriminate (irazinci has invariably 



LED to the Destruction of the Younu Growth on the Forestj , 



Floor. Black Mesa Reservatk^n, Arizona. 



for the most part, been wisely selected to fulfil a threefold fimction, 

 viz.: that of protection and luxury, as well as that represented in the 

 direct value of forest products. Indeed, at the present time their 

 direct value is in many instances of minor importance. On the other 

 hand, as the reserved lands are almost entirely mountainous in char- 

 acter and located at the headwaters of many of our important streams, 

 their value as conservators of moisture is very great, and it is to 

 their maintenance in many instances that the farmers and ranchmen 

 in the adjacent valleys must look for a perennial supply of water for 

 their crops and stock. 



In the selection of the reservations, consideration has also been 

 given to their value from the standpoint of recreation and sport. 



