310 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Forests are important to mining, and benefits accrue 

 to mining from forests; but it is not sufficient to say 

 so and there stop. The forests are an absolute neces- 

 sity to the mines. Nor is it true to say that the timber 

 produced by the forests is the only benefit accruing 

 from them. Conservation of water by a thrifty growth 

 of trees is to the credit of the forest, while alike impor- 

 tant and necessary to the mineral industry, and when 

 that water is thus conserved it becomes invaluable as 

 it flows upon such agricultural areas as may be adja- 

 cent to the mineral lands. I say adjacent, but I do not 

 mean within the exterior boundaries of the mineral 

 zone, because I do not believe that the narrow strips 

 of soil oftentimes found alongside of mountain streams 

 which have cut through ledges of metal-bearing rocks 

 and which consist largely of the erosion of those rocks 

 constitute agricultural areas entitled to consideration 

 or rights equal in any degree with the rights of the 

 mines. And I think any legislation looking to the 

 giving of grants to such so-called agricultural areas a 

 hindrance and stumbling block in the way of progres- 

 sive and successful mineral development. 



Not many, perhaps, fully appreciate the enormous 

 quantity of timber needed in and about a great mine in 

 order to carry on its operations and protect the lives 

 of its operatives. The hoisting works, metallurgical, 

 and othe; buildings on the surface which are always 

 in sight perhaps render the casual observer unmindful 

 of the fact that further supplies of the forest product 

 are required with every foot of progress made in pene- 

 trating underground. As the miner's work of taking 

 out the ore advances, he surrounds himself with a 

 framework of timber which is intended to hold in place 

 the sides and roof of his excavation. Wherever it is 

 possible to hold in place these sides and roofs with 



