No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 293 



cultural cereal and cotton crops on the one hand, and the lumberman's 

 axe and forest fires on the other, is greater than this term can begin to 

 express. 



The term " Restoration of natural resources," I claim, meets our pres- 

 ent needs far better, and breathes greater hope and definite accomplish- 

 ments for our children's children in the future. 



The following paper by F. W. Rane, State Forester of Massa- 

 chusetts, was read before the New England Water Works Associa- 

 tion, March 8, 1911: — 



The Reforestation op Watersheds for Domestic Supplies. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the New England Water Works Associa- 

 tion: — -The subject of municipal forests is more or less of a new idea, 

 but I can see where forestry and water works are naturally coming to- 

 gether more and more. Most of you gentlemen, I take it, are engineers. 

 Now, how can forestry come in along with your lines of work? I think the 

 subject is likely to be of more and more importance, as time goes on, to 

 water-works people. I take it for granted that a great many of the works 

 represented here are municipal works. Some of them may be private 

 corporations, but they are all run upon practically the same lines. A 

 few years ago, in 1908 I think it was, we had occasion in the State Forestry 

 office to work out a plan for the city of Fall River, covering about 3,000 

 acres. At that time the mayor and the commissioners and the engineer 

 had an idea that they were going to carry the plan into effect, but for some 

 reason or other it unfortunately has not been carried out to the extent 

 that they had hoped it would be. They are doing something, however. 

 They have an area of about 3,000 acres surrounding their water supply, 

 and if any of you are interested in the report we made, I have extra copies 

 at the office and would be glad to send them to you upon application. 



At that time I read a paper before one of our scientific societies, the 

 subject of which was "Municipal, Corporation and Private Ownership 

 Forests," and, with your permission, I will read you a few paragraphs 

 from that paper bearing particularly upon the subject of municipal for- 

 ests: — 



The time is ripe for the development of this type of forestry. I believe all 

 that is required at present is to agitate the subject and to explain how easily and 

 economically it can be brought about. Our cities and towns have sprung up by 

 the hundreds and thousands throughout the land. Their development has been pro- 

 portionate to their natural advantages. Permanency has become more stable as 

 time has gone on, until to-day finds us with municipalities ready and willing to 

 accept and adopt almost any measure that will develop a better future and a 

 busier center of population. Our cities and towns have been solving the prob- 

 lems of a permanent and efficient water supply, sewerage system, etc. Our boards 

 of health tell us that a pure water supply is absolutely necessary to longevity of 

 our population. Municipal forests about the drainage basins of our water sup- 

 plies and reservoirs can be made not only an important factor in conserving the 



