And State Papers 327 



the game wardens of Montana and Wyoming, and 

 that the present game warden of Idaho has also 

 promised his hearty aid. 



The preservation of the forests is of course the 

 matter of prime importance in every public reserve 

 of this character. In this region of the Rocky Moun 

 tains and the great plains the problem of the water 

 supply is the most important which the home-maker 

 has to face. Congress has not of recent years done 

 anything wiser than in passing the irrigation bill; 

 and nothing is more essential to the preservation of 

 the water supply than the preservation of the for 

 ests. Montana has in its water power a source of 

 development which has hardly yet been touched. 

 This water power will be seriously impaired if ample 

 protection is not given the forests. Therefore this 

 Park, like the forest reserves generally, is of the ut 

 most advantage to the country around from the 

 merely utilitarian side. But of course this Park, 

 also because of its peculiar features, is to be pre 

 served as a beautiful natural playground. Here 

 all the wild creatures of the old days are being 

 preserved, and their overflow into the surrounding 

 country means that the people of the surrounding 

 country, so long as they see that the laws are ob 

 served by all, will be able to ensure to themselves 

 and to their children and to their children's children 

 much of the old-time pleasure of the hardy life of 

 the wilderness and of the hunter in the wilder 

 ness. This pleasure, moreover, can under such con 

 ditions be kept for all who have the love of adven- 



