22 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



January, 



forcement have met with many obsta- 

 cles. It is passing through a crucial 

 period, but we have such confidence in 

 the energ}', ability, and zeal of those 

 who have the guardianship of the public 

 forests that we can reasonably anticipate 

 the establishing of one of the most per- 

 fect and successful forest systems of the 

 world. 



During the past twent}' years the 

 farmers in the fertile valleys of Arizona 

 have been absorbed in the herculean 

 task of constructing systems of irriga- 

 tion. Not until recently have they 



first invaded by the white man the for- 

 ests were open, devoid of undergrowth, 

 and consisted in the main of matured 

 trees, with practically no forest cover. 

 Instead of forest undergrowth, the 

 ground was well set with perennial 

 grasses and other herbage, which, being 

 undisturbed, maintained what may be 

 termed a normal condition, or such as 

 existed when the country was first set- 

 tled and such as is now so much to be 

 desired. It was not an uncommon thing 

 for the early settlers to cut native hay 

 in the pine forests and fill large govern- 



BOUNDARY I.INE BETWEEN THE FOREST AND THE DESERT, SHOWING YOUNG 

 GROWTH OF JUNIPER AND PINON, CAPITAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO. 



paused in this work for a breathing 

 spell, and, while relaxing muscle and 

 brain, have inquired concerning material 

 changes which have transpired on the 

 great watersheds and the fountain-head 

 of their water supply. They have been 

 startled to learn that while, with a few 

 exceptions, the rainfall througliQUt the 

 territory has been normal, without ex- 

 ception the water supply has annually 

 decreased. 



Briefly, the history of the forests of 

 Arizona, which my opportunities have 

 enabled me to gather from many of the 

 oldest reliable pioneers, is that when 



ment contracts at the different military 

 posts. As an instance, Fort Whipple, 

 near what is now the Prescott forest re- 

 serve, ma}^ be mentioned. Where hun- 

 dreds of tons of hay were cut under the 

 actual spread of the forest trees during 

 the sixties and seventies, there is not 

 now enough grass on a thousand acres 

 to keep in condition a famih' cow. 

 Where were then running streams are 

 now dry arro^'os, and where were then 

 living springs are now beds of silt and 

 sand. However, there is some hope in 

 the fact that where once the grass flour- 

 ished there is now a vigorous young 



