15 



season. As the trees are removed, thp waters of heavy raina rush unimpeded 

 directly to the valley? and are carried off within a short time, leaving the 

 bed almost or quite destitute of water during the dry season. About one 

 fourth of the water falJiug in the form of rain, snow and hail in this state is 

 carried oif by rivers. 



We need not have gone beyond our own state, nor referred to times longer 

 than our own limited experience to find examples of the evils resulting from 

 this change in the flow of rivers from one of regularity and uniformity to one 

 of periodic floods and dry or nearly dry beds. Such has been the change in 

 the flow of the Milwaukee river, even while the area from which it receives 

 its supply is but partially cleared, that the proprietors of most of the mills 

 and factories have found it necessary to resort to the use of steam, at a largely 

 increased yearly cost, to supply the deficiency of water-power in dry seasons 

 of the Tear. Until this was done many large mills were closed for want of 

 water in the latter part of summer and early autumn ; While the floods of 

 spring are increased until they are sufficient to carry away bridges and dama 

 before deemed secure against their ravages. The Menomonee river, a small 

 tributary of the Milwaukee, has been effected in the same way and to a still 

 greater degree, because a larger proportion of the water-supplying area has 

 been stripped of its forest trees. Several of the mills that formerly found 

 sufficient power on this stream, have been entirely abandoned ; others are 

 propeAed a large share of the time by steam. Down its channel during and 

 immediately following heaty rains^ great floods sweep along, doing more or 

 less damage ; followed in a very few days by dry pebbly, or muddy banks, 

 and bed, in which only an occasional pool of water can be found. A small 

 stream formerly run into the river within the sixth ward of the city of Mil- 

 waukee ; it had a nearly uniform flow, and was seldom destitute of water, 

 even in the dryest summer: in former times the beaver built his dam and 

 constructed his curious houses upon it ; but now, since the clearing away of 

 the trees, it is only a passage way for the heavy spring rains. During the 

 remainder of the season its bed is dry. 



What has happened to the Milwaukee river and to these smaller streams, 

 has happened to all tl^ other water courses in the state from whose banks 

 the forests have been removed ; and many farmers who selected land upon 

 which there was a living brook of clear, pure water, now find these brooks 

 dried up during a considerable portion of each year. 



HOW TREES PEOTECT THE SOIL. 



Another serious evil resulting from clearing away the forests is the washing 

 away of the soil by the rains. The degradation of the soil by rains, especial- 

 ly on side hills, commences when the trees are removed. At first a slight 

 break is made, along which the descending currents ftoW, carrying with them 

 the softened earth, to be deposited upon the plains below, or carried off ^y 



