cultivated land is for any considerable length of time abandoned and kept free from destructive agencies the forest re-asserts itself, and the soil is soon covered with an arborescent growth. The report, after presenting a number of very forcible sanitary and economical reasons for the establishment of the proposed park, goes on to say: "The loss to the State of New York which would be entailed by the destruction of the Adirondack forests, taking into account the manufacturing and canal interests involved, could only be counted by millions of dollars, and this without taking into consideration the loss to the health of our citizens by the removal of the most valuable of all sanitariums and the destruction of the valuable game preserves of the Adirondacks. The commission regards it of the utmost importance that the State should acquire title to all the forest lands within the limits of the Park which it is possible to acquire in the shortest practicable time. It desires further to indicate in the most emphatic way the strong claims that the subject of forest preservation involved in this measure has upon the attention of the Legislature, and to urge prompt and liberal action. It is no temporary device that is here under consideration, affecting small interests within narrow limits, but a far-reaching measure, involving the prosperity of the whole State and having regard to its welfare for all time. On behalf of the people of the State we appeal to you for the immediate enactment of such laws as shall seem to you judicious and effective to save our forests from destruction." THE YELLOWSTONE FOREST RESERVATION. This, the principal forest reservation in the United States, is thus described : Standing upon one of the high peaks in the northwestern part of the Yellowstone National Park, the observer looks out upon an almost unbroken, undulating, dark green forest, stretching away to the eastward and southward This timbered area, comprising the central and southern portions of the Park, is a high, rolling volcanic plateau, with an average altitude of about 8,000 feet, except in the extreme south, where an altitude of 10,000 feet is reached. On the northwest it is flanked by the Gallatin Range, mainly sedimentary, and along the whole eastern boundary by the rugged volcanic peaks of the Absaraska or Yellowstone Range, both reaching altitudes of 11,000 feet. The continental divide crosses the Park, and is generally broad, ill-defined and heavily timbered throughout, with an altitude varying from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The mountain slopes over the region, where not too precipitous and rocky, are generally well clothed with timber up to 9,000 feet. Above this the country becomes more open, and grassy parks mingle with groves of trees until the timber line is reached, which may be roughly estimated at 9,600 feet on the peaks and somewhat higher on the elevated plateau. The altitude of the Park, with its topographical features, make it one of the storm centres of the northern Rocky Mountains. It is one of the greatest natural reservoirs in the United States, including within its limits the head waters of the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison and Snake rivers. The Park lies in the Rocky Mountain belt of coniferous forests, geographically termed the Interior Pacific, and which, trending northwestward, unites in Washington territory with that of the Pacific coast, forming a broad belt which, still farther north in Canada, merges into the northwest extension of the Atlantic forest. The Park comprises 3,350 square miles, the principal tree being the black pine, mingled to a much lesser extent with the white pine, red fir, balsam, spruce, and occasional red cedars. Another report says: The Park is a high plateau with an average elevation of nearly 8,000 feet, surrounded on nearly all sides by mountains rising from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above this broad table-land. Numerous streams from the high mountains pour their waters into the Park, from which by means of three large rivers the greater part of it leaves this elevated country for the more arid regions below. Hundreds of lakes, many of them of large size, lie scattered over the plateau. Yellowstone lake, one of the grandest bodies of water in the world. at so high an altitude, presents a magnificent natural reservoir twenty miles in length, with a breadth across its greatest expansion of fifteen miles. Two large rivers, the Yellowstone and the Snake, find their sources in these lakes and mountain recesses. In all the vast Rocky Mountain country there are few, if any, areas of equal extent so admirably adapted for a national forest reservation, and none which present greater advantages as a national reservoir for the storage of water. Over eighty per cent. of the Park country is covered with a coniferous forest. For the collection and preservation of this water supply the forests of the Park and the adjacent territory are of incalculable value. They are, indeed, a prime necessity. The importance of this water in an arid region, and one with a constantly increasing population, cannot be over-estimated. It is safe to say that without the forest and with the diminished water supply which would naturally follow, the grand scenic effects of the Park would be wholly wanting. Prof. Fernow, head of the Forestry Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, says: This is a Park, and not a Forest Reservation, in the sense in which we have now several established in Colorado and New Mexico, and expect to establish others. In this Park no timber is cut, no forestry practised, no hunting allowed; and, in the absence of sufficient civil appropriations, the army has had its protection in charge most efficiently. The same system is inaugurated in several parks established in California, simply military patrols preventing tresWhen trespassers are found, they can only be removed and their tools pass. confiscated. Public opinion in the States, however, seems not satisfied with the management of the Parks established. Garden and Forest, edited by Prof. Sargent, perhaps the best forestry authority there, says that the vandalism of tourists is complained of concerning Yellowstone Park, and that poachers have settled all round it so that the game has no adequate protection. Speaking of the fact that six forest reservations, including 3,250,000 acres, have already been established under the new law, it says: The sum of the fact is that we have set apart from the public domain certain tracts for national parks and forests, but their boundary lines have never been defined, and no law has ever been enacted which establishes a system of government within their limits with appropriate executive machinery, and prescribed penalties for the violation of its provisions." BANFF NATIONAL PARK. This Park is situated in Alberta territory, Canada, and is twenty-six miles long, northeast by southwest, and ten miles wide. It is traversed by the Canadian Pacific Railway from Duthil to Cascade. The station at Banff is in the north-western portion of the Park. The village of Banff is one and a half miles south of the station, at the base of Tunnel Mountain, and has a population of about 3,000. The Government maintains a superintendent and wardens for the enforcement of the police regulations and game laws governing the Park, and has done much by opening up roads and bridle paths to make the beauties of the locality accessible. The scenery is magnificent, comprising many mountain ranges of great height, several important rivers, among which are the Bow and Spray, and many lakes, some of which are of great depth. A large proportion of the Park is in forest; game is plentiful in the valleys and mountain ranges, and fish, comprising trout of ten to thirty pounds in weight, are numerous in the waters. The whole Park is now accessible by either drive-ways or trails. Medicinal springs exist, of which many invalids take the benefit. Complaints have been noticed of injury caused by fire in the national Parks. It may be remarked that in older countries all work in parks is generally done by the forest staff, assisted by employés whose numbers are increased or lessened to suit the occasion or season. It will be easily seen that the presence of these men, acting as a description of police if necessary, adds greatly to the security of a Park from fire or trespass. THOS. W. GIBSON, Secretary. Toronto, March 8, 1893. ALEXANDER KIRKWOOD, Chairman. ARCHIBALD BLUE. JAMES DICKSON. R. W. PHIPPS. |