1904 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



227 



of Milk River in Canada is detrimental 

 in a certain degree to Montana, but at 

 the same time consideration must be 

 ( had as to the magnitude of the diver- 

 sion and its probable effects upon in- 

 dustries in that state. Assuming that 

 the ordinary rules of priority of appro- 

 priation apply to the waters of St. 

 Mary River and to those of Milk River, 

 it is evident that by priority of survey 

 and of construction the Canadians have 

 already acquired an unquestioned right 

 to the use of water for considerable 

 areas of land. Their surveys were 

 made some years ago, and construction 

 has been initiated. 



In the case of St. Mary River the 

 Canadians are utilizing a considerable 

 part of the low-water flow, but do not, 

 and probably never can, utilize the flood 

 fl6w, and this can with propriety be 

 stored in St. Mary Lakes and retained 

 in the United States if the project is 

 feasible. 



The same is true of the waters of 

 Milk River. The Canadians by prior- 

 ity of survey and of construction have 

 probably acquired a right to such water 

 as they can obtain, but this quantity is 

 limited from the fact that their diver- 

 sion canal is high up on the headwaters 

 of the river. 



THE FOREST INTERESTS OF OHIO. 



BY 



PROFESSOR WILLIAM R. LAZENBY. 



IN his first message to the General 

 Assembly, Governor Herrick said : 

 "It is evident that the State of Ohio 

 should awake to the benefits to be de- 

 rived in replacing to some extent, at 

 least, the trees and forests which have 

 disappeared. 



' ' In some of the states of the Union 

 legislatures have wisely provided for the 

 protection of forests and woods. I com- 

 mend this subject to your serious con- 

 sideration, to see if some means can not 

 be devised whereby the growth of tim- 

 ber may be encouraged, not only for the 

 profit arising from the growing of tim- 

 ber, but for the purpose of preserving 

 our water supplies, protecting ourselves 

 from disasters of flood, and maintain- 

 ing climatic conditions which are in 

 some degree dependent upon our for- 

 ests." 



In accordance with these suggestions, 

 a committee appointed by the Ohio 

 State Forestry Society, assisted by 

 others interested in the subject, has 

 drafted a bill, which is now before the 

 state legislature. 



The main features of the bill are as 

 follows : First, providing for the pay- 

 ment of a premium or bounty of two 



dollars an acre for a period of ten years 

 to any land-owner of the state who will 

 plant and care for forest trees in com- 

 pliance with the rules laid down by the 

 State Board of Forestry ; second, giv- 

 ing the Board of Forestry the power to 

 accept by gift or secure by purchase 

 suitable land in any county of the state 

 that it may deem desirable for forestry 

 purposes, at a cost not to exceed ten 

 dollars an acre, and to be retained as 

 permanent forest reserves. 



Every loyal citizen will rejoice to learn 

 that Ohio has at last awakened to the 

 importance of saving her forests. This 

 is not a mere local interest, it is a patri- 

 otic duty. All civilized nations of 

 Europe have long since enacted laws 

 for the preservation of trees and for the 

 reestablishrnent and perpetuation of a 

 generous forest area. New York, Penn- 

 sylvania, Michigan, and other states are 

 following in their lead. 



Shall the great State of Ohio be blind 

 to her future welfare ? Each generation 

 is the trustee and guardian of the natural 

 wealth in soil, climate, and beauty of 

 our commonwealth for the generations 

 to come. Shall we by short-sighted 

 selfishness and negligence destroy our 



