666 CONSERVATION 



in the past. But, considering the ex- thousand or two millions more reclaim- 



pense of planting the timber on them, ing the remainder of our waterways, 



and the time before returns can be it might be well to consider the econ- 



secured, they become the most costly omy of beginning at the headwaters 



class of lands that can be purchased." and eliminating the causes of decad- 



It appears, then, that efforts to se- ence of our water-courses rather than 



cure Government aid for preservation burdening the country with the con- 



of the Appalachian forests have so far tinuous expense of trying to undo the 



had no practical results, except to make effects. 



their destruction more rapid and certain We know, of course, that the forest 

 and their rehabilitation more remote, covering cannot control the water-flow 

 difficult, and expensive, and it will re- altogether, but it is the best known reg- 

 quire many years of active work, and ulator of the run-off and a nearly per- 

 expense without returns, to reproduce feet protection against erosion ; and, 

 even as favorable forest conditions as reinforced by the reservation dams to 

 existed "eight years ago." hold back the flood, would at least 

 In the West, where the Government greatly reduce the cost of construction 

 owned the lands, large areas have been and maintenance of the deep water- 

 reserved within the last ten years for ways. And besides giving protection 

 the preservation and extension of Na- to the land and waterways, the forest 

 tional Forests ; but in the East, where will furnish material for useful em- 

 private ownership controls, it certainly ployment of the water-powers, and corn- 

 appears as if all efforts for the pres- modities for transportation more valu- 

 ervation of the forests have thus far able than mud and sand, 

 accomplished less than nothing. We are talking conservation, but lit- 

 The Government spends hundreds of tie is yet being done to stop the need- 

 millions in dredging the rivers and har- less, wasteful works of destruction, 

 bors. And now it is proposed to dig a We are reclaiming desert lands in 

 deep waterway from the Lakes to the the West, but we are making deserts 

 Gulf, dredge out the rivers and build much faster in the East. We are de- 

 great reservation dams to regulate the stroying more acres of forest every 

 streamflow and provide a national sys- week than we are recreating in the 

 tern of inland water transportation and whole year; and, while we are propos- 

 water-power. It is a great scheme and ing a great national system of deep 

 its accomplishment greatly to be de- waterways, we are stripping our steep 

 sired ; but we are a great people, and hill and mountain lands of their only 

 the glamour of great undertakings is protection against erosion and turning 

 alluring. loose additional billions of tons to fill 

 We have already proved that if we up the already clogged rivers and har- 

 shall say unto the mountain, "Be thou bors. 



removed, and be thou cast into the sea ; We are despoiling the earth and 



it shall be done ;" but we have not yet wasting its resources as much faster 



proved our ability to stop the mountain than any people who have gone before 



on its way, or prevent the destruction us as the swift-running railroad train 



that its removal may cause. The res- is faster than the slow-going pedestrian, 



ervation dams may, for a time, check If present wasteful and destructive 



the flood and delay the movement ; but ways are continued we shall, in the near 



the delay will be but temporary, for, future, have little to export from the 



once started on its way, the detritus products of our forests, our fields, or 



will fill up the reservation ponds, lakes, our mines, and a dearth of the where- 



and river-beds, and finally reach the withal to feed, clothe, and employ our 



ocean harbors. own people, and will be facing ques- 



Therefore it is suggested that before tions of vastly greater consequence 



undertaking the expenditure of two or than the fixing of tariff schedules, 



three hundred million dollars on the building inter-ocean canals, or hunting 



Lakes-to-Gulf deep waterway, and a open doors for our surplus commodities. 



