56 



101 and 25. In 1S9G they were 103 and 22. More frequent storms of de- 

 structive character occur throughout the summer, and the fall and lay of 

 snow is not so constant as formerly. I am not prepared to say that the 

 annual precipitation is much less than before deforestation, but believe the 

 almost certain annual drouth is heightened because the rainfall is not con- 

 served to the soil because of the conditions before mentioned. 



Foresti*y and drainage are reciprocal. The surface drainage is changed. 

 No one rationally doubts it. It is contracted generally, more quickly si>as- 

 modic in overflow and becoming more intermittent. The streams In for- 

 mer times under conditions of dense woods contained water all the ye:ii- 

 round. The rivers dammed by fallen trees and drift prevented the hasty 

 escape of the water from their beds. But now the drifts are gone and 

 for the greater part of the year the streams are stagnant and dead. This 

 is true, especially of the Pigeon, Eel and Wabash rivers. Many of the 

 lakes have shi'unken in area and the small creeks and streams no longer 

 exist. 



The same causes answer for these conditions as for the climate; les- 

 sened transpiratory agents, increased facilities for evaporation, aided 

 escape of the rainfall and destroyed storage conditions. 



The unhindered flow of the rainfall over the surface correlates for- 

 estry and erosion. Erosion is altering in many places, to a considerable 

 extent, the contour of the State and resulting in serious damage to the 

 streams. Tlie surface is being gullied and the soil carried into the streams 

 and springs, thereby clogging and filling them up. 



This devastation of the streams relates forestry and zoology. The 

 congestion of the streams with the erosive sediment filling up the deep 

 holes and the intermittent flow are destructive to the propagation of many 

 of the fishes. The drying up of the deeper sloughs and swamps is extermi- 

 nating the mollusks and crustaceans. The same may be said of every 

 other water-inhabiting species. 



It may be argued that in many instances it is well such is the case, 

 but for science it is not good. 



Forestry and ornithology are mutually related. The destruction of 

 the forests means the destruction and extinction of many of the birds. 

 Trees are the natural homes of most of our beautiful birds. It is in the 

 forest that they nest and hatch their young. The larger food birds of both 

 land and water habitations are almost entirely extinct in this State. The 

 same is true of many of the finest species of plumage and song birds. 



