1904 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 575 



i 



ing industry to be carried on simul- pendent upon them for a supply of 

 taneously in the same territory, not timber products; and, second, to con- 

 only without conflict or friction but in serve the water supply and maintain 

 such manner that scientific forest an equable flow in the streams. These 

 methods may be applied in fullest mea- two chief purposes are admirably suit- 

 sure while the best interests of the ed to meet the needs of the two' great 

 bona fide miner are subserved and pro- branches of the mining industry, lode 

 moted. mining and placer mining. The prin- 



Strange as it may seem, after know- cipal natural product required by the 

 ing the provisioins of the law cited lode miner is timber, while the placer 

 above, the establishment of a forest miner is powerless to carry on his ope- 

 reserve in a mining region often ex- rations without water, 

 cites grave apprehension in the minds Man is ever extravagant with what- 

 of the residents of the locality. Fear- ever nature bestows, and miners in the 

 ing dire results from the presence of use of timber, if unrestrained, dem- 

 the reserve, with the administration of onstrate the rule. Their business 

 which they are unfamiliar and the ef- makes them creatures of the present, 

 fects of which they have not studied, They rarely consider the ultimate good 

 mine owners are frequently aroused to of the community 'when they are cut- 

 strenuous opposition and seek in every ting timber ; they regard only the sat- 

 way to escape from imaginary ills, isfaction of their own immedate needs 

 What they would avoid they find in in their quest for wealth. Commonly 

 the end to be a beneficent boon. in the mountainous mineral districts 



An apt illustration is found in the there is naturally a goodly supply of 

 history of the Black Hills Forest Re- timber, but t*he discovery of mines 

 serve, one of the earliest to be set aside, leads quickly to the reckless destruc- 

 The great Homestake Mine is within tion of this and to the heedless impair- 

 the limits of that reservation and ment of the forest growth. No thought 

 when it was created the Homestake is given to the future. Wasteful, care- 

 people were panic stricken. They less methods of cutting prevail and 

 thought the innovation would at once vast accumulations of tops, limbs, and 

 close their mine, and they believed its other refuse soon encumber the cut- 

 continuance would result in the prac- over tracts. Fires now get in and 

 tical destruction of their property, what may have escaped the ruthless 

 They sought to have the reserve abol- hand of the chopper falls a prey to the 

 ished and they fought it tooth and nail, devouring flames. Were the fire con- 

 The Government was firm, however, fined to the areas cut over, the dam- 

 and insisted on conferring its benefits, age would not be so great, but, unop- 

 The experience of years has shown the posed, it sweeps on, urged by the ap- 

 Homestake owners their error. Now plauding winds, and the demon of de- 

 they appreciate the reserve system and struction works its will. Thus are de- 

 are working hand in hand with forest stroyed quantities of timber, compared 

 officers in all that concerns the reserve, with which the amount consumed by 

 Not only so they have adopted re- man is insignificant. The fire is the 

 serve methods in the management of great and real destroyer, but man, un- 

 their own extensive timber holdings, intentionally, is, too often, responsible 

 Now they regret that the reserve was for the conditions which make the aw- 

 not created before the mine was dis- ful destruction possible, 

 covered. Worse yet and wholly inexcusable, 



The forest reserve system contem- is the damage done by the fire-bug, 

 plates the accomplishment of a two- who, in order to clear a brushy hill- 

 fold object in the preservation of the side or remove thick timber in a can- 

 forests ; first, to keep them in the state yon, deliberately sets fire to the coun- 

 of highest continued production for try to facilitate prospecting work. 

 the benefit of the people locally de- Thousands of acres of most valuable 



