38 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF TUZ 



railroad companies operating within the forest preserve of the State should 

 be compelled to use some substitute for coal for fuel ; something that will 

 not create fire to be thrown from grates or stacks into the dry, powder-like 

 growth that abounds along their rights of way. Plainly, it is a question of 

 change in this respect or no forests. There ought to be no question about 

 our choice, and no hesitancy about putting it into operation. 



If the fuel question was eliminated, the problem would be much simpli- 

 fied. As in Vermont, a law should be enacted giving the Governor authority 

 to suspend the hunting season in time of drought, prohibiting hunters and 

 campers from going into the forests. One hundred fires were set by hunters, 

 27 by campers, 19 by fishermen; 136 in all from these causes. All of this 

 danger should be eliminated and severe penalties imposed on those who 

 carelessly or negligently set or cause fires to start. In fact, every instru- 

 mentality should be given and applied to prevent forest fires. 



During the last year in the United States, more timber was cut for 

 commercial purposes than ever before in a given year. The total cut 

 amounts to more than 41,000,000,000 feet board measure. Following close 

 upon the heels of this great destruction in tree growth is the constant 

 decreasing supply of water in our streams, greatly reducing the availability 

 of many mills and factories, lessening their productiveness, distressing the 

 people in many municipalities of the State by the shortage of pure water 

 supply, affecting agricultural land to a marked degree, and gradually reduc- 

 ing the available water horse-power in nearly every mountain stream in 

 the countiy. 



Coincident with this rapid destruction of natural resources our popula- 

 tion in the nation is augmenting so rapidly that, in fifty years, we will 

 number at least 200,000,000 souls. The demand for lumber is increasing 

 faster than our population, and the supply is decreasing faster than the 

 increase of population. 



In our last report we called attention to some of these facts and urged 

 upon the people the immediate necessity of doing all in their power to 

 conserve and restore these resources, so bountifully bestowed and so prodi- 

 gally used. We now renew those suggestions. We again urge the necessity 

 for a change in our law that will permit of better management. 



The avenues of escape from a condition that will surely confront and 



