Forest Reserves of North America 



the surplus runs off over the surface of the ground, 

 and by a thousand tiny rivulets at last reaches some 

 main stream which carries it toward the sea. In the 

 deep forest, however, the melting of this snow is very 

 gradual, and the water is given forth slowly and 

 gradually to the stream, and does not cause great 

 floods. Moreover, the large portion of it which is 

 held by the humus, or forest floor, drains off still 

 more gradually and keeps the springs and sources of 

 the brook full all through the summer. 



Without protection from the warm spring sun, 

 the snows of the winter might melt in a week and 

 cause tremendous torrents, the whole of the melted 

 snowfall rushing down the stream in a very short 

 time. Without the humus, or forest floor, to act as 

 a soaked sponge which gradually drains itself, the 

 springs and sources of the brooks would go dry in 

 early summer, and the streams further down toward 

 the cultivated plains would be low and without suffi- 

 cient water to irrigate all the farms along its course. 



It was for the purpose of protecting the farmers of 

 the West by insuring the careful protection of the 

 water supply of all streams that Congress wisely 

 passed the law providing for the establishing of 

 the forest reserves. It is for the benefit of these 

 farmers and of those others who shall establish them- 

 selves along these streams that the Presidents of the 

 United States for the last twelve or fourteen years 

 have been establishing forest reserves and have had 

 expert foresters studying different sections of the 

 western country to learn where the water was most 

 needed and where it could best be had. 



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