After a Fire in the Slash. While Mountains, New Hampshire 



erable intervals. He called attention to 

 the fact that Mr. Moore arrives at no 

 conclusion with reference to erosion, 

 which is one of the most important 

 elements affecting- the navig^ability of 

 streams. He also pointed ont clearly 

 that the extreme hig^h and low-water 

 stages were important in this connec- 

 tion. 



In conclusion, he urged that while it 

 is argued that no serious results have 

 as yet followed deforestation in this 

 country, the jieople believe in preven- 

 tion, and thev hold the idea — and in the 

 main it is correct — that forests do af- 

 fact the storage and run-off of the 



streams. Furthermore, while this meas- 

 ure calling for national acquisition of 

 forest land must rest, so far as present 

 decisions are concerned, upon the ef- 

 fect of the forests upon navigation, 

 there are other impoitant considera- 

 tions such as the water-powers, the com- 

 mercial value of the forests themselves, 

 their influence upon health, and their 

 beauty, which, while they are aside 

 from the legal powers of Congress, add 

 to the value of such action as is pro- 

 posed, and should increase the willing- 

 ness of Congress to take such action 

 when it is clearl}- shown that these for- 

 ests upon the steep slopes have an ef- 



137 



