500 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



December, 



both timber and water, econom}' in re- 

 gard to appropriations, increment of rev- 

 enue all alike would be subserved by 

 a wise and enlightened administration 

 of these lands. 



The loss sustained by the government 

 through its failure during the past cen- 

 tury to enact reasonable legislation on 

 this subject is appalling to contemplate. 

 By fire alone the loss is beyond compu- 

 tation, while to this must be added the 

 value of the timber otherwise swept from 

 these lands in the interest of greed and 

 speculation, for which no compensation 

 has been returned to the government. 

 Irreparable loss has been entailed upon 

 the nation in respect to two of its most 

 important natural resources wood and 

 water. 



The interests of irrigation are vitally 

 involved in this matter, for the forests 

 must be preserved, if flood waters are to 

 be stored . The entire undertaking hinges 

 largely upon our treatment of these nat- 

 ural reservoirs. Let another quarter of 

 a century follow of spoliation of public 

 timber lands and unchecked forest fires, 

 and the whole question of irrigation will 

 assume a totally different character. 

 The difficulties and the cost will both 

 be multiplied an hundred fold. With 

 60,000,000 acres of arid lands thirsting 

 for irrigation, the government can no 

 longer afford to delay in the matter of 

 preserving what remains of its natural 

 reservoirs. The water problem in the 

 west has settled the forest problem. It 

 now simply remains for the government 

 to act and to act ivi mediately , the lines 

 of action having been clearly determined 

 by its entering upon a national irriga- 

 tion policy. Nothing .short of the im- 

 mediate withdrawal of all public lands 

 that are more valuable for forest uses 



than for other purposes, and proper pro- 

 vision for their protection, will meet the 

 exigencies of the irrigation work. A 

 bill to effect this purpose should un- 

 doubtedly be passed by the present 

 Congress. 



The fact that the American Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science is 

 .shortly to meet in this city presents the 

 opportunity of securing for this move- 

 ment the powerful support of that body. 

 Such an opportunity should not be lost. 

 The American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science should therefore 

 be asked to memorialize Congress for 

 such legislation at this session ; and it 

 may be added that unremitting efforts 

 should thereafter be put forth to see 

 that the measure is not lost in Congress. 



The admirable provisions of the bill 

 on this subject recently recommended 

 by the General Land Office seem to meet 

 every requirement in the matter. It 

 reads as follows : 



"A Bill to withdraw and administer 

 all public forest lands. 



' '^ Be it enacted by the Senate and House 

 of Representatives of the United States oi 

 America iji Congress assembled, That all 

 public lands which are more valuable 

 for forest uses than for other purposes, 

 are herebj^ withdrawn from settlement, 

 entry, sale, and other disposition, and 

 shall be held for the protection and util- 

 ization of the timber thereon. 



"Sec. 2. That the timber and other 

 products of the lands hereby withdrawn 

 from disposal shall be protected and 

 utilized in accordance with the provis- 

 ions of the laws relating to the subject 

 of forest reservations in the state, terri- 

 toxy, or district in which the land is 

 situated." 



THE VISION OF IRRIGATION. 



BY MINNA C. SMITH. 



On brown and purple peaks against blue sky the snow, 



Fierce yellow sunlight on wide sage-gray lands. 

 Clear, cold, and foaming white, swift Nile-green rivers flow 



That soon shall give this desert to men's hands. 



Front the Outlook. 



