FOREST PRESERVATION. 



449 



became very much smaller in volume. They furnished a much 

 smaller supply of water than before, and this is getting less and 

 less every year. 



Of course within the last few years we have had a great deal 

 of rain, and the conditions are somewhat different than before. 

 This wet cycle that we have now will give place to what we call 

 a drv cycle, and when that comes you will find there will be very 



little water in any of these rivers that flow into the Mississippi. 

 Take the Minnesota river today. I have understood from a certain 

 gentleman who is conversant with the history of this country, and 

 also the conditions existing here years ago, that the fact was that 

 not many years ago, and within our own knowledge at one time, 

 the Minnesota River was the main branch of the Mississippi. I 

 think probably there is considerable in that statement, but I have 

 seen the time when there was hardly water enough in the Minnesota 



