62 SECOND BIENNIAL EEPORT [W. VA. 



United States Government to purchase land for the purpose mentioned are 

 Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, 

 Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia, and the counties in West Virginia in 

 which this land will be purchased are parts of Pendleton, Hardy, Eandolph 

 and Pocahontas. 



For many years the United States Congress has been endeavor ing ^to have 

 a law enacted and appropriations made for the purpose of purchasing sufficient 

 forest reserves to insure an even supply of water to our navigable rivers, 

 but were not successful in having such bill become a law until a recent session 

 of Congress. 



Anticipating the passage of such a law by the United States Government, 

 the West Virginia Legislature of 1909, in conformity with the suggestions of 

 Governor Dawson, in his biennial message, passed a bill which gives the 

 United States Government the right to acquire such property. This bill 

 comprises Chapter 61 of the Acts of 1909, and is as follows: 



"An act to empower the United States of America to acquire lands in 

 West Virginia, by condemnation or otherwise, for a national forest reserve, 

 and granting to the United States all rights necessary for the proper control 

 and regulation of such reserve. 



"Sec. 1. That the consent of the legislature of West Virginia be and is 

 hereby given the acquisition by the United States, by purchase or by con- 

 demnation with adequate compensation, of such lands in West Virginia as in 

 the opinion of the federal government may be needed for the establishment 

 of such a national forest reserve in that region; provided, that the state of 

 West Virginia shall retain a concurrent jurisdiction with the United States 

 in and over such lands so far that civil process in all cases, and such criminal 

 process as may issue under the authority of the state of West Virginia against 

 any person charged with the commission of any crime without or within said 

 jurisdiction may be executed thereon in like manner as if this act had not 

 been passed. 



' ' Sec. 2. The power is hereby conferred upon Congress to pass such laws as 

 it may deem necessary to the acquisition, as hereinbefore provided, for incor- 

 poration in said national forest reserve of such forest covered lands in West 

 Virginia as in the opinion of the federal government may be needed for this 

 purpose. 



"Sec. 3. The power is hereby conferred upon Congress to pass such laws 

 and to make or provide for the making of such rules and regulations, of both 

 a civil and criminal nature, and provide punishment therefor, as in its judg- 

 ment may be necessary for the management, protection and control of such 

 lands as may be from time to time acquired by the United States under the 

 provisions of this act." 



The question of forests with their manifold benefits to the continued exist- 

 ance of mankind on earth, would fill volumes and cannot be properly dis- 

 cussed in an article of this character, but the benefits to be derived by our 

 state and nation by establishing a national forest reserve in the territory 

 mentioned is so apparent that it deserves at least some passing comment. 



The basic idea of the Federal Government in acquiring these reserves is to 

 regulate the flow of water in the streams originating in these forest areas, 

 which eventually form the navigable streams of our nation. But the con- 



