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sion has already surveyed and studied for power purposes, which includes water storage near the sources of the streams, nearly every one of these large rivers. In this department we accordingly have a mass of data immediately available for the proper development of the streams. I am sure that you realize the tremendous importance of this work and I shall not enlarge upon it here.

After all is said and done, one of the most important uses of the Adirondack mountains is its use as a great vacation ground for the people. Vacationists and health seekers are flocking into the woods as never before and any financial statement of the business of the Adirondacks would show that the business of caring for them so far exceeds every other industry in the amount of capital invested and in the annual operating expense, that the other sink into comparative unimportance. A statement in financial terms of the value of the Adirondacks as a vacation and health resort would, however, be an entirely inadequate statement. The full measure of the value of such a vacation country can never be stated in terms of money but rather in terms of the health and happiness of the entire people.

I think that I have indicated to you something of the intensive methods that are necessary today if conservation is to become thoroughly effective. Conservation is no longer a theory. It has become a very important and practical work, and one to which it is necessary that we apply the same detailed and intensive methods that characterize the conduct of the largest and most successful industrial enterprise. Conservation deals with material things, and you can analyze them all, and study the best methods for protecting and increasing them. Scientific management of the State's great natural resources is the keynote today of the work of the Conservation Commission.

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Secret Service methods in game protection have netted the Conservation Commission more than one hundred cases of violation of the deer law during the season recently closed, according to announcement just made by Commissioner George D. Pratt. Twentysix settlements have been made so far for a total of $1,059. The entire cost of detecting these cases was $146.

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* WHAT THE ASH AND THE MAPLE LEARNED

By Mabel Powers-Yehsennohwehs

Long ago, birds, trees, animals, and men knew each the language of the other, and all could talk together.

In those days, the trees of the forest grew very large and strong. At last they came to know their strength too well. They became selfish, and proud and quarrelsome. Each tree boasted that he was the greatest and strongest. Each one struggled to gain for himself the most earth, the best air, the brightest sun. No tree had a thought for the other.

One day the trunk of a great Maple tried to crowd out an Ash. The Ash, of course, thought he had as much right to stand there as the Maple, and he said he would not stir a limb.

"Get out of my way," cried the Maple. "I am greater than you, and of more use to man; for I furnish the sweet water for him to drink."

"Indeed, I will not!" said the Ash. "I am greater than you, and of more use to man than you; for I furnish the tough wood from which he makes his bow." At this the trees fell to wrestling. Back and forth, in and out they swayed, each trying to throw the other. They forgot that they were brothers in the wood.

Then the South Wind came along. to find out what the quarrel was about.

He heard the loud voices and stopped

"I am greater than you, for I furnish the sweet water for man to drink," came the angry voice of the Maple, as he threw his huge trunk against the ash.

"No, you are not," retorted the Ash, and he sent the Maple back with a great push of his strong elbow. "I am greater than you, for I furnish the tough wood from which he makes his bow."

For a time, the South Wind watched them writhe and twist and try to throw each other to the ground. Then he said, softly, "You, O Maple, do not cause the sweet water to flow for man; nor do you, O Ash, make your wood to grow pliant and tough for his bow."

"Who does, then?" they asked defiantly.

"Listen, said the South Wind, "and you shall hear."

*From Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children. Copyright, 1917, by Mabel Powers. Reproduced by special arrangement with American Book Company, publishers.

Then the Maple and Ash forgot their quarrel. They bent their heads so low and close to listen, that an arm of the Maple slipped through an arm of the Ash.

And as they stood thus listening, each with an arm locked in an arm of the other, the South Wind gently swayed them to and fro. Then a voice was heard, singing, "San noh-eh! San noh-eh! San noh-eh!" which means, "The Mother of all things."

Thus it was that the Ash and the Maple learned that it was Mother Earth who gave them their life, and power, and strength, and that they were brothers, because they had one Mother.

The Ash and the Maple whispered the secret to the birds. The birds came and listened to the voice, and went and told the animals. The animals came and listened, and went and told men. And thus all the earth children learned that there is one Great Mother of every living thing, and that all are brothers.

And now, whenever two trees lock arms lovingly, and the South Wind sways them gently to and fro, that same voice may be heard, singing, "San noh-eh! San noh-eh! San noh-eh!"

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WATER POWER CONSERVATION IN NEW YORK

Paper by John G. Agar, President of the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks

Read at the meeting of the New York State Forestry Association at Lake Placid, Saturday, September 8, 1917

HE interrelation of these two subjects,-forest conservation and water conservation-is so well understood that only a passing word concerning the forests is necessary.

In addition to their ultimate utility as sources of wood supply, their influence on local climate and their usefulness as health and pleasure resorts, forests are natural conservers of water. By their cooling effect on the surrounding atmosphere and by the friction which they present to passing currents of moisture-laden air, they doubtless have an appreciable influence in determining the locality of rainfall. If there be difference of opinion as to the degree to which forests effect rainfall, there is less question as to their influence in reducing loss by evaporation and in equalizing stream-flow by retarding snow-melting and run-off. They also reduce erosion a thousand fold, thus preserving the natural reservoir formed by the soil and also preventing the silting-up of streams.

Less, perhaps, on account of the influence of forests on water conservation than on account of their intrinsic commercial value, the State has developed a substantial forest policy; but for reasons which can be readily understood although they are none the less to be regretted, it has been very backward in developing a policy concerning its waters. As early as the days of DeWitt Clinton, in 1822, the rapid removal of the forests was the subject of serious concern; but nothing effective was accomplished until the creation of the Forest Preserve in 1885. During the past 32 years, as the result of constant agitation, public knowledge of the subject has increased, public sentiment has crystallized, and an honest and intelligent state administration has been built up, so that we may say that now we do have a State Forest Policy. In the retrospect of this phase of our subject, we see standing out three conspicuous historical landmarks, namely, the establishment of the Forest Preserve

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