342 ECONOMICS OF FORESTRY. 



regard to the question of water supply. The val- 

 leys of the West being, for the use of their almost 

 inexhaustible fertility, dependent upon irrigation 

 waters, the water conserving capacity of a well- 

 kept forest cover is indispensable, and in this direc- 

 tion even the brush lands are of value. 



It would be only rational that the extensive plans 

 for the development of irrigation systems in the 

 West should include the rapid withdrawal from 

 entry of all the mountain forest and brush lands, 

 and their rational treatment with the main object 

 of preserving the soil cover. 



In the Eastern states, the single state govern- 

 ments alone may carry out a similar reservation 

 policy, and indeed the beginnings have been made 

 here and there. 



The state of New York owns nearly one and 

 one-quarter million acres with the avowed purpose 

 of increasing the acreage of state forest ; the state 

 of Pennsylvania has entered upon the policy of 

 acquiring state forest, and several other states are 

 at least discussing the propriety of such ownership. 

 But the majority of the states have not yet 

 waked up to their obligation in this respect, and com- 

 munities, like villages, towns, cities, counties, which 

 so often in Europe derive acceptable income from 

 forest properties, have not yet considered such a 

 policy, hence the forest areas are nearly entirely in 

 private hands. 



As to the character of this private ownership and 



