1 8 9 g. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



2 7 



most cheaply carried through by means 

 of grazing. The interspersion, through- 

 out the country, of groves and hedges, 

 furnishes protection for the birds that 

 keep the insect enemies of the farmer in 

 check. In the West, therefore, the Asso- 

 ciation should endeavor to co operate 

 with the farmers and others dependent 

 directly or indirectly for their subsistence 

 upon agriculture by irrigation. It is 

 generally believed that, through reckless 

 and wanton destruction of forests, injury 

 has come to the streams which furnish 

 water to the arid or drought-stricken 

 lands. Throughout a third, or possibly 

 a half, of the United States, all land 

 values rest upon the ability to obtain an 

 artificial supply of water, and anything 



which in the least affects the water sup- 

 ply comes to have vital importance. In 

 arid and semiarid regions, therefore, the 

 Forestry Association should at all times 

 second the efforts of those who are seek- 

 ing for the conservation of the water 

 supply. It is evident that it is high time 

 for intelligent men, from Maine to Cali- 

 fornia, to give serious attention to the 

 preservation of the forests we have and 

 to increase the forest area throughout 

 every State, particularly where lands have 

 value for no other purpose. 

 Very truly yours, 



James Wilson, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 

 Washington, D. C, 

 Jan. 27, 1899. 



Object of Forest Reservations. 



Public forest reservations are estab- 

 lished to protect and improve the forests 

 for the purpose of securing a permanent 

 supply of timber for the people and in- 

 suring conditions favorable to continuous 

 water flow. 



It is the intention to exclude from 

 these reservations, as far as possible, 

 lands that are more valuable for the 

 mineral therein, or for agriculture, than 

 for forest purposes; and where such lands 

 are embraced within the boundaries of a 

 reservation, they may be restored to 

 settlement, location and entry. 



The law provides that nothing it con- 

 tains shall be construed as prohibiting 

 the egress or ingress of actual settlers 

 residing within the boundaries of such 

 reservations, or from crossing the same 

 to and from their property or homes ; 

 and such wagon roads and other improve- 

 ments may be constructed thereon as 

 may be necessary to reach their homes 

 and to utilize their property under such 

 rules and regulations as may be pre- 

 scribed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

 Nor shall anything herein prohibit any 

 person from entering upon such forest 



* Abstract from Regulations of the General Land 

 Office. 



reservations for all proper and lawful 

 purposes, including that of prospecting, 

 locating and developing the mineral re- 

 sources thereof : Provided, That such 

 persons comply with the rules and regu- 

 lations covering such forest reservations. 



The settlers residing within the ex- 

 terior boundaries of such forest reserva- 

 tions, or in the vicinity thereof, may 

 maintain schools and churches within 

 such reservation, and for that purpose 

 may occupy any part of the said forest 

 reservation, not exceeding two acres for 

 each schoolhouse and one acre for a 

 church. 



All waters on such reservations may 

 be used for domestic, mining, milling or 

 irrigation purposes, under the laws of 

 the State wherein such forest reserva- 

 tions are situated, or under the laws of 

 the United States and the rules and 

 regulations established thereunder. 



The right of way in and across forest 

 reservations for irrigatingcanals, ditches, 

 Humes and pipes, reservoirs, electric 

 power purposes, and for pipe lines, will 

 be subject to existing laws and regula- 

 tions ; and the applicant or applicants 

 for such right will be required, if deemed 

 advisable by the Commissioner of the 



