WILDERNESS RESERVES 293 



great plains and among the mountains of the West in- 

 tended to keep the forests from destruction, and therefore 

 to conserve the water supply. These reserves are, and 

 should be, created primarily for economic purposes. The 

 semi-arid regions can only support a reasonable popula- 

 tion under conditions of the strictest economy and wisdom 

 in the use of the water supply, and in addition to their 

 other economic uses the forests are indispensably neces- 

 sary for the preservation of the water supply and for 

 rendering possible its useful distribution throughout the 

 proper seasons. In addition, however, to this economic 

 use of the wilderness, selected portions of it have been 

 kept here and there in a state of nature, not merely for 

 the sake of preserving the forests and the water, but for 

 the sake of preserving all its beauties and wonders un- 

 spoiled by greedy and short-sighted vandalism. What 

 has been actually accomplished in the Yellowstone Park 

 affords the best possible object-lesson as to the desirability 

 and practicability of establishing such wilderness re- 

 serves. This reserve is a natural breeding-ground and 

 nursery for those stately and beautiful haunters of the 

 wilds which have now vanished from so many of the great 

 forests, the vast lonely plains, and the high mountain 

 ranges, where they once abounded. 



On April 8, 1903, John Burroughs and I reached the 

 Yellowstone Park, and were met by Major John Pitcher 

 of the Regular Army, the Superintendent of the Park. 

 The Major and I forthwith took horses; he telling me 

 that he could show me a good deal of game while riding 

 up to his house at the Mammoth Hot Springs. Hardly 



