i9o8 WATER SUPPLIES 



89 



has received more silt and sand in the by going direct to the seat of the 



past eighteen months than in all the trouble. 



thirty years previously. "This is not a sectional matter, but 

 "If this is the case with 20 per cent. ^^ °^ National importance, the necessity 

 of the forests gone, what will be the ^'^^ action on which has been seen and 

 plight of Augusta and other cities ^""ged by clear headed men in all see- 

 similarly situated when the remaining ^'O"'' oi our country. The baneful ef- 

 80 per cent, of forests are cut? ^^cts are too apparent to be longer 



0^1 ■ 1 J J u • Xi- i:ii- ignored. The increased flood damage 

 J his sand and debris, after fallms^ ^^^1, ,,^^^ , • ^ ^ .^ ^dud^c 

 *i ^- r X. ^ each vear at important points, such as 

 the upper portions of our streams, p;„^,l„,f; v>:..\ j lu \t .1 

 £ 11 u 4. .I.U 1 J. r ^-mcinnati, Pittsburg and other North- 

 finally washes to the slower waters of „,.„ ■.■, L o. r ti .- ui \ J 

 t-u ■ \ \ 4.- 1 • -r.i ^^^^ cities, is as directly traceable to de- 

 the navigable portions, and is swiftly Prestation as are our flood damages 

 filling them up making navigation j^^,^^ ^^^ self-interest on the part of 

 dangerous, if not impossible, and mak- ourselves and our statesmen, if no 

 ing dredging operations necessary on .^roneer or more patriotic motive ex- 

 a arge and ever-growing larger, ■ -^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^1^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^ 

 scale each year. be applied. 



"It can be safely stated that the "This remedy is forest preservation, 

 amount which will in the near future or, as better expressed, forest perpetu- 

 have to be paid in one year for dredg- ation. under the care and guidance of 

 ing, jetties, harbor work, etc., in our the National Government.'" 

 Southern States, would pay the total Mr. Finney estimates the amount of 

 cost of a National Forest area that power that could be developed on the 

 would remedy the trouble for all time, streams having their source in the 

 Surely, at this time, when our trans- Southern Appalachian region, at be- 

 portation facilities are manifestly in- tween 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 horse- 

 adequate ; when our entire country is power. Three million horse-power, if 

 calling for and insisting on the relief developed, would mean an investment 

 that canals and improved waterways in hydro-electric plants of upwards of 

 only can afford ; when large appropria- 8300,000,000, earning annually $60,- 

 tions for these purposes must be made ; 000.000, at a conservative estimate, and 

 it is well to call attention to the only saving the South on its coal bill alone 

 effective remedy for curing the disease over $15,000,000. 



THE PEACE OF QUIET AISLES 



By Jane Taaffe 



Fell on my soul the calm of twilight woods. 



The peace of quiet aisles 



Where ancient trees in solemn, cloistered files. 

 Muse on dim ages past — 

 Eternity of silence, dreamless, deep! 



Roses of mornings fled! 



Vistas of evenings gay, with roses dead! 



When comes for me the call 



At eventide, may folding shadows fall! 



The calm of twilight woods! 



The peace of quiet aisles! 



From Appleton's Magazine for December, 1907 



