Our Forest Reservations 



vation means a new game refuge, a record of what 

 has been done for pubHc forests is a record of 

 what has been done for game protection; and the 

 review is one which affords abundant cause for satis- 

 faction to all who are interested in the perpetuation 

 of the large game of the continent. 



A bill passed by Congress, March 3, 1891, con- 

 tained a provision authorizing the President of the 

 United States to set apart and reserve from time to 

 time government lands wholly or in part covered 

 with timber or undergrowth, as public reservations, 

 and to declare by public proclamation the estab- 

 lishment of such reservations and their limits. 



The passage of this law, while an essential step 

 toward forest preservation, would have availed little 

 unless acted on. Fortunately, General John W. 

 Noble, who was Secretary of the Interior when 

 the measure became a law, took a broad view of 

 the importance of forest preservation. Early in his 

 term of office he had recognized the great economic 

 value of the Yellowstone Park as a source of water 

 supply, and had given much attention to the protec- 

 tion of this reservation. The Yosemite Park also 

 owes a great deal to his fostering care, and it was 

 through him that the Grant and Sequoia Parks were 

 set aside. When the enabling act of 189 1 presented 

 the opportunity, General Noble at once recom- 

 mended the establishment of a number of forest res- 

 ervations, and from time to time they have been set 

 327 



