i8o 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Rangers IIazzard and Beown, of Leadville National Forest, Colorado. 



veloped water power is probably not less than 1,000,000 horse-power 

 more." 1 



The mighty interests here indicated are bound up with the preserva- 

 tion and perpetuation of the forests upon the Southern Appalachian 

 Mountain slopes. The value of water power is limited by the low 

 water flow. The question is not, How much water is discharged 

 annually? nor even, How great is the average flow per month? but 

 How great is the minimum ? Hence constancy and a reasonably large 

 volume are essential. 



These are insured by the preservation of the forests, for the forest 

 mulch holds back the water precipitated by rainfall and thaws, and 

 discharges it gradually the year round. If, on the other hand, the 

 mountainsides are stripped of their vegetation and then, by fire and 

 floods, denuded of their soils, the water which, gradually supplied, 

 might have driven the mills, now descends in disastrous floods, only to 

 be followed by long periods of low water. 



Agriculture is, of course, largely dependent upon natural irriga- 

 tion from the rivers fed from these mountains. To it the alternation 

 of flood and drought is as disastrous as to manufacturing bv water 

 power. Similarly, the great transportation interest of the south is 

 intimately concerned. Its profits are directly dependent upon ton- 

 nage, and tonnage is dependent upon the productiveness of the region 

 served. 



What, now, is the situation of the south as respects the conserva- 

 tion of these interests ? 



1 U. S. Senate report No. 2537. 



