T 66 CONSERVATION 



poses, entails duties to the public, and velopment of the streams and their 



that such lands should be protected sources for every useful purpose to 



with equal effectiveness, whether under which they may be put. 



public or private ownership. The highest and most necessary use 



Forests are necessary to protect the of water is for domestic and municipal 

 sources of streams, moderate floods and purposes. We therefore favor the rec- 

 equalize the flow of waters, temper the ognition of this principle in legislation, 

 climate and protect the soil ; and we and, where necessary, the subordina- 

 agree that all forests necessary for tion of other uses of water thereto, 

 these purposes should be amply safe- The superior economy of water 

 guarded. We affirm the absolute need transportation over land transportation, 

 of holding for forests, or reforesting, as well as its advantages in limiting 

 all lands supplying the headwaters of the consumption of the non-renewable 

 streams, and we therefore favor the resources, coal and iron, and its effect- 

 control or acquisition of such lands for iveness in the promotion of commerce, 

 the public. are generaly acknowledged. We there- 



The private owners of lands unsuited fore favor the development of inland 



to agriculture, once forested and now navigation under general plans adapted 



impoverished or denuded, should be en- to secure the uniform progress of the 



couraged by practical instruction, ad- work and the fullest use of the streams 



justment of taxation and in other for all purposes. We further express 



proper ways, to undertake the reforest- our belief that all waterways so devel- 



ing thereof. oped should be retained under exclusive 



Notwithstanding an increasing pub- public ownership and control, 

 lie interest in forestry, the calamitous We regard the monopoly of waters, 

 and far-reaching destruction of forests and especially the monopoly of water 

 by fire still continues, and demands im- power, as peculiarly threatening. No 

 mediate and decisive action. We be- rights to the use of water powers in 

 lieve that systems of fire guardianship streams should hereafter be granted in 

 and patrol afford the best means of perpetuity. Each grant should be con- 

 dealing adequately with fires which oc- ditioned upon prompt development, 

 cur, whether from natural causes, such continued beneficial use and the pay- 

 as lightning, or in other ways; but we ment of proper compensation to the 

 affirm that in addition thereto effective public for the rights enjoyed ; and 

 laws are urgently needed to reduce the should be for a definite period only, 

 vast damage from preventable causes. Such period should be no longer than 



Apart from fire, the principal cause is required for reasonable safety in in- 



of forest destruction is unwise and im- vestment. The public authority should 



provident cutting, which, in many retain the right to readjust at stated 



cases, has resulted in widespread, in- periods the compensation to the public 



jury to the climate and the streams. It and to regulate the rates charged, to 



is therefore of the first importance that the end that undue profit or extortion 



all lumbering operations should be car- may be prevented. 



ried on under a system of rigid regu- Where the construction of works to 



lat i n - utilize water .has been authorized by 



public authority and such utilization is 



We recognize the waters as a primary necessary for the public welfare, pro- 

 resource, and we regard their use for vision should be made for the expro- 

 domestic and municipal supply, irriga- priation of any privately owned land 

 tion, navigation and power, as inter- ar >d water rights required for such con- 

 related public uses, and properly sub- struction. 



ject to public control. We therefore The interest of the public in the in- 



favor the complete and concurrent de- crease of the productiveness of arid 



