No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 477 



the latter returns are made at comparatively short periods while 

 from the former they are received only after the expiration of a 

 longer period of time. In addition to the money revenue, the State 

 and its citizens will be the better off for the protection and augmen- 

 tation of its water supply, the better regulation of stream flow, the 

 furnishing right at home of large quantities of necessary wood pro- 

 ducts, in addition to affording a field for unskilled labor to those 

 who live in the small settlements nearby. 



Upon these forest reservations are found the head waters of 

 numerous streams breaking forth in springs at times of great volume. 

 This water, running down the declivities of the mountain side, if 

 properly controlled and utilized, would be the means of furnishing 

 to the industrial communities of the State an untold number of 

 thousands of horse-power, either directly from the fall of the water or 

 through the medium of electricity generated at suitable stations 

 and conveyed where needed through proper conducting cables. And 

 the fact further remains that one stream is not only capable of fur- 

 nishing power from a single plant, but that plants may be duplicated 

 throughout its course and the water used over and over again in 

 its passage from the higher to the lower level; and be it further 

 not eld that in thus utilizing the fall of the water it is in no wise 

 contaminated or made unfit for personal or animal use. We con- 

 fidently look forward to the time when such use may be made of the 

 streams and small rivers which are wholly upon State holdings; 

 for in these cases neither riparian or any other vested rights will be 

 interfered with or even encroached upon. 



The problem of pure water for domestic use is becoming one of 

 greater moment every year. The phenomenal growth of manufactur- 

 ing industries, naturally located near the streams, the increase of 

 population about such centres and the use of the water courses for 

 drainage purposes, all combined, make the problem of pure water 

 supply frequently one not easy of solution. To enable incorporated 

 municipalities to supply their citizens from a source not subject to 

 contamination, and where a copious flow can at all times be had, 

 the Legislature of 1905 passed an act whereby the Forestry Com- 

 missioner and the Reservation Commission may, under such re- 

 strictions and regulations as they shall deem to be for the best in- 

 terests of the public, grant to municipal corporations the right to 

 take and use water from the streams upon the State forest reserva- 

 tions. A few of the municipalities in the State are at this time 

 considering the advantages of this law. No doubt others will, from 

 time to time, be compelled to look in this direction. 



The same Legislature, feeling that the withdrawal of the State 

 forest reserves from taxation was in many instances working a hard- 

 ship upon townships thinly settled and having little seated land, 

 passed an act whereby the State is required to pay those townships 

 five cents per acre for each acre of forest reserve so held, appor- 

 tioned between the school authorities on the one hand at three cents 

 per acre and the road authorities on the other at two cents per acre. 

 It is no doubt just that the State should help to bear the burden in 

 all communities where it enjoys these holdings. The amount needed 

 for road construction is not decreased but the purchase of reserves 

 continues to withdraw further areas from taxation. The amount 

 required for school purposes by reason of increased population is 



