PRESERVE THE SOIL 663 



over 150 per cent, in different locali- lower hills swept away, and in precisely 

 ties, or an average of probably 100 per the same measure the headwater 

 cent, throughout the entire area. Un- streams reduced to storm torrents, and 

 doubtedly even the bordering rivers — the lower river channels converted into 

 the Ohio and the Mississippi — have sand washes, like those of the arid re- 

 suffered an increase in range materially gion, or capricious volumes and mud- 

 affecting both navigation and general laden waters, utterly useless for navi- 

 industrial development. Nor can any gation and impossible for terminals, 

 one familiar with the region and ac- Recent river work proves beyond all 

 quainted with those natural processes question that the value of a river for 

 whereby soils are formed, vegetal cov- navigation depends no less on its 

 ers produced, and uniformity of streams sources than on the character of its 

 maintained fail to see that the damage channel; that the river system is a unit 

 is increasing in a geometric ratio, the from headwaters to mouth ; and that in 

 loss during each decade averaging such rivers as those heading in the Ap- 

 twice that of the decade before; nor palachian region it will be impossible 

 can he fail to foresee that unless the to maintain navigation in the lower 

 present tendencies are checked much reaches without protection of the 

 of the Appalachian upland will be re- mountain slopes and the myraid springs 

 duced to barren rock, the soil of the whence the waters flow. 



T 



PRESERVE THE SOIL 



Dedicated to Dr. W J McGee 

 By JOHN A, JOYCE 



HE rolling hills and mountains 



Without their forest dress 

 Will soon bring to the nation 



Great hunger and distress, 

 And if we do not listen 



To the scientific strain 

 The soil of grand Columbia 



Will be washed away by rain. 



Brave Nature in her glory 



Works for animated things 

 And tells the old, old story 



Of feeding serfs and kings. 

 But man obtuse and greedy 



Will not listen in his pain 

 To the poor and weak and needy 



Who must live by sun and rain. 



We must save the soil and water 



Or a desert there shall be. 

 For wife and son and daughter 



In this Land of Liberty ; 

 And the Congress of the nation 



Must now listen to the brain 

 Of our scientific sages 



Who would husband soil and rain ! 



