452 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



work comes chiefly from streams ris- 

 ing in mountains. To maintain the sup- 

 ply of this water, it is essential that for- 

 ests be maintained upon these moun- 

 tains. To this end, National Forests 

 are indispensable. 



"While some of our soils are exces- 

 sively dry, others are excessively wet. 

 Our swamp area equals the area of 

 New England, New York, and New 

 Jersey. Much of it can easily and 

 cheaply be drained, the resulting profits 

 being vast. Properly tilled, this wet 

 area would support a population equal 

 to that of the United States. Further, 

 sources of disease would, at the same 

 time, be removed. 



"A great drainage movement is now 

 on, and legislation is pending in Con- 

 gress. Yet drainage, like irrigation, is 

 largely dependent upon forestry ; for it 

 is necessary not only to remove the ex- 

 cess of water, but to prevent its return. 

 Hence, overflows of rivers must be 

 checked; and, to this end, forests on 

 slopes must be maintained. 



"Ovir National Forest policy marks 

 a wise and beneficent beginning. Such 

 forests mean neither destruction nor 

 yet the withholding from use ; but the 

 fullest use to which, in perpetuity, these 

 forests can be put. They make it pos- 



sible for us to 'eat our cake and have it, 

 too.' Such forests, however, exist 

 wholly in the West, on the public do- 

 main, where they were 'proclaimed' by 

 successive Presidents. They are even 

 worse needed in the East and South, 

 where no public domain exists. Here 

 the land must be bought. This necessi- 

 tates an act of Congress. Such legisla- 

 tion is contemplated by the Appalach- 

 ian-White Mountain bill, three times 

 passed by the Senate, but each time 

 blocked by hostile leaders in the 

 House. 



"The Southern Appalachian forests 

 contain our last remaining important 

 hardwood stock. As such, they are es- 

 sential to the nation as a whole, to 

 West and East alike. The East helped 

 the West secure the Reclamation Act. 

 It is ready to help develop the inland 

 waterways. Western help, in turn, is 

 imperatively needed for the establish- 

 ment of national forests in the South- 

 ern Appalachian and White Mountains. 

 Time is precious. The forests are go- 

 ing, while the price of the land is 

 mounting. The American Forestry As- 

 sociation is leading in the fight for this 

 imperatively necessary measure. It so- 

 licits the cooperation of every right- 

 thinking citizen." 



THE FOREST FIRE FIGHTERS 



By ARTHUR CHAPMAN 



The wind sweeps off the spire-like peak, 



And is whirling the cinders high ; 

 While down in the stifling, deadly reek, 



We struggle, and all but die. 



We have felled the trees in the fire's path. 

 Till our hands are bleeding and sore; 



But always it speeds, with a hiss of wrath. 

 And leaps the barrier o'er. 



We have fought it back, with blaze 'gainst blaze, 



And yet has the foe slipped past ; 

 But slowly we yield, in the choking haze. 



Till the victory's won at last. 



Small pay do we get, and thanks are gruff, 

 When we've fought the foe to his knees; 



But, after all, the reward's enough. 

 When we hear the wind in '.he trees. 



— Denver Republican 



