American Forest Congress 47 



the Pyrennes, and other mountain ranges in central 

 and southern Europe, and the progress of physical 

 deterioration, have become so rapid that, in some 

 localities, a single generation has witnessed the begin- 

 ning and the end of the melancholy revolution. 



"It is certain that a desolation like that which has 

 overwhelmed many once beautiful and fertile regions 

 of Europe awaits an important part of the territory of 

 the United States, unless prompt measures are taken 

 to check the action of destructive causes already in 

 operation, * * * 



"The only legal provisions from which anything 

 can be hoped are such as shall make it a matter of 

 private advantage to the landholder to spare the trees 

 upon his ground, and promote the growth of young 

 wood. Something may be done by exempting stand- 

 ing forests from taxation, and by imposing taxes on 

 wood felled for fuel or timber ; something by premiums 

 or honorary distinctions for judicious management 

 of the woods. It would be difficult to induce gov- 

 ernments, general or local, to make the necessary 

 appropriations for such purposes. But there can be 

 no doubt that it would be sound economy in the end." 



It is claimed that about two hundred square miles 

 of fertile soil are washed into the rivers annually in 

 the United States, while the loss in crops and other 

 property destroyed by floods will run up into the 

 millions. 



The most of this loss can be traced to the destruction 

 of the forests along the river banks. 



Forest-covered areas retain a large percentage of the 

 rainfall, while regions where there are no forests allow 

 a much greater proportion of the rainfall to at once 

 find its way into the streams. It is well known that 

 many of our streams are subject to more disastrous 



