44 STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY 



tion of generating electric power by stream flow and transmitting it 

 economically to distant points is the important problem for the im- 

 mediate future. It is quite probable that in a few years electricity 

 generated by our water powers will be utilized on many of the large 

 farms. It is at this point that the forest performs an important 

 function. One of the essentials of a good water power is that it must 

 be constant. The water falling as rain on the watershed of a stream 

 used for power purposes must be so conserved as to feed it evenly 

 into that stream. This can only be done in an economical and 

 effective way by having the watershed covered with forests, which 

 are the best natural reservoirs known. Without forests on the water- 

 sheds of our streams there will be the usual calamity of floods fol- 

 lowing heavy rains, and extremely low water following periods of 

 drouth, such as are common where watersheds are not protected by a 

 forest cover. This emphasizes the importance of protecting our 

 forests from reckless methods of cutting and destruction by forest 

 fires. To do this properly the State should acquire considerable areas 

 of mountain slopes to be held as forest reservations, not only for 

 the protection they would afford to stream flow, but for the production 

 of timber, which is already becoming scarce in many localities. 



Not only are the forests essential in controlling the flow of water 

 in streams, but it has been clearly demonstrated by a study of con- 

 ditions in different counties that in any considerable area where the 

 forests constitute less than 20 per cent, of the land area, injurious 

 effects are sure to follow. The forests exercise a very beneficial 

 effect in the distribution of rainfall over the areas in which they 

 are located. It has been found that in forest areas the rainfall may 

 be 25 per cent, greater than that existing in unforested areas. This 

 subject is of such far-reaching importance as to deserve the closest 

 study. In this connection, the conclusion reached by a committee 

 of foresters and weather bureau experts, presented to the Fifth 

 National Conservation Congress in November, 1913, is of special 

 significance and will be found on page 52 of the Appendix to this 

 report. 



