1901. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



[99 



northerly, westerly and southerly for many 

 miles. In this broad valley is the reserva- 

 tion of the Pima and other Indians, who 

 have cultivated the soil from time imme- 

 morial by the use of water from the Gila 

 River. The building of canals and ditches 

 above the reservation has deprived these 

 Indians of the water which they have 



rado of the diversion of Gunnison River 

 through a great tunnel into Uncompahgre 

 Valley. Here also is a large river Mow- 

 ing to waste, and it is possible that by 

 means of suitable works the water can be 

 diverted to lands, the supply of which is 

 now deficient. 



Another class of problems is that having 



previously used, and the Government has to do with interstate waters, such, for ex 



been compelled to appropriate money for 

 their support. Justice and humanity de- 

 mands that this water supply should be re- 

 stored in order that these Indians may 

 continue their agricultural operations. The 

 storing of water on a small scale has been 

 found to be impracticable, but on a large 

 scale an amount of water can be held suf- 

 ficient not only for the Indians but for the 

 irrigation of 100,000 acres of lands addi- 

 tional. Congress has been urged to build 

 the storage works at a cost of a little over 



ample, as the Arkansas River. The canals 

 in Kansas are practically useless, but i' 

 possible that by careful water conservation 

 by reservoirs in the mountains and high 

 plains the supply for the lower river can 

 in time be increased to such an extent as 

 to supply some of the lands of Kan- 



The facts as to the cost and benefits of 

 some of the important works are now he- 

 fore Congress and the people of the United 

 States, and the onlv thing remaining to be 

 done is to unite upon some policy as to 

 one million dollars, supply the Indians whether the proposed works shall be exe- 

 with water, and dispose of the vacant pub- cuted by some form of public funds. If 

 lie lands at a price sufficient to cover the so, steps should be taken towards this end 



cost of the works. 



In contrast to the reservoir system of 

 Arizona, are the projects for the diversion 

 of large rivers. The most notable of these 

 is that of Saint Mary River in northern 

 Montana, receiving the drainage from the 

 Rocky Mountain regions, and carrying it 

 clue northerly into Canada, intercepting 



at once before the interests of individuals 

 have attained such proportions as to render 

 developments so difficult and extensive 

 through legal complications and adjust- 

 ment of vested rights as to prevent con- 

 struction in localities where the results are 

 most needed. If these matters are to be 

 left to private enterprise then the land- 



the supply which otherwise would flow laws should be adjusted so as to make these 



easterly across the Great Plains. It is practicable and recognize the fact that the 



proposed, by a large canal, to take the risks undertaken by private capital should 



waters from this mountain area over a low not be increased, since these in turn must 



divide, and throw them into the head of be borne ultimately by the cultivators of 



Milk River, from which they can be taken the soil. A definite, logical policy such 



for the irrigation of many thousand acres as that of forest preservation should be, de- 



of land along this valley. termined upon and urged by the friends 



Another project is that in western Colo- of the West. 



TREE PLANTING ON IDLE LANDS IN NEW ENGLAND. 



By J. D. Lyman 



THE two great difficulties which lie 

 in the way of forestry are: (1) 

 Lack of knowledge of the art and 

 science of forestry. Many owners of poor, 

 cheap lands would, I think, grow at least 

 a few acres of timber, if they knew how 



to do it as well as fanners know how 

 grow a crop of corn. ( -' ) The other diffi- 

 culty is the taxes. An acre ol farm land 

 produces a crop each, year and is right- 

 fully taxed annually. In seventy-five or a 

 hundred and fifty years, seventy-five or 



