DISCUSSION: FORESTS, RESERVOIRS, AND STREAM FLOW 505 
A tree conveniently located for access and use is worth two, or five, mr. 
or ten, in the mountains. Add to the advantages from the above 
points of view those of the enjoyment of the people from access to the 
forests, the value of forests as wind-breaks and shelters, their greater 
immunity from fire if in detached areas than in continuous areas, and 
there may seem to be after all some merit in the writer’s idea of a 
wide distribution. Some have construed the writer’s words on this 
subject to mean that he would devote good agricultural land to this 
purpose. He expressed no such thought. In almost every locality 
there are lands of little agricultural value that could be devoted to 
this purpose without unduly restricting areas of cultivation. 
The writer can hardly believe, and is quite certain that the country 
at large does not believe, that good results cannot be obtained in the 
development of forests upon our cut-over lands throughout the coun- 
try. Mr. Pinchot says that a forest plantation can never take 
the place of the natural forest. Very true, but the forest primeval 
is gone forever, or soon will be. Even such as are retained will no 
longer be “primeval” after a period of cutting. It will be necessary 
here, as in Europe, to rear up new forests, and this in fact is con- 
stantly urged in current forestry literature. If this is the revamping 
of an old idea, let it continue to be revamped until it becomes the 
main idea. It need not be imagined that the people of the country 
will consent to be taxed for the purchase and maintenance of forests 
in the eastern mountains, and stop there. If forests are necessary and 
if general taxation is to maintain them, their benefits must be brought 
home to all the people as nearly as possible. It seems to the writer 
very desirable that this subject be thoroughly considered and a general 
policy adopted by Congress before it launches out upon some partial 
or local measure.* 
Concerning the second section of the paper—the function of reser- 
voirs in the control of stream flow—very little has been brought out 
in the discussion that requires attention. By what reasoning a few 
of his critics have concluded that the writer is opposed to the general 
idea of water storage on a large scale, it is impossible to conceive. No 
word in the paper justifies such an inference. In fact this particular 
subject has always been a professional hobby of the writer’s, and no 
one appreciates more fully than he its possibilities and the importance 
of locating and constructing such reservoirs as rapidly as conditions 
will justify. The example of the State of New York in taking up the 
matter with a view of storing its waters and rendering them avail- 
able for power is one that should be followed by other States and by 
the Government, in their respective spheres. 
iter is glad to note a desire on the part of Congress to enter upon tbis work on 
puoadtines ee ehout restricting it to any particular section of the country. The Weeks 
bill. favorably reported on January 26th, is a step in the right direction. It is to be hoped 
that this, or some equally comprehensive measure, will become a law. 
Chitten- 
den. 
