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<br />nu' Q" "", <br />u 1(.0 <br /> <br />. ' ":.' - -'~ ..' <br />~2~.~~~; ~>;.:;; ~>: ~:: ~ <br />.... -,' ". <br /> <br />. .... <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />14 HISTORY OF CONSERVATION IN THE MISSOURI VALLEY <br /> <br />'. ',', ......~~ <br /> <br />~tf~J~ <br /> <br /> <br />.. -:< ..... ..:-'.... <br /> <br />~ <br />I <br />, <br /> <br />.' .~. .....:", <br /> <br />.,-.."..--. <br /> <br />feeds later into the streams as springs. Even the creek on the <br />prairie is also fed by ground water which a dead grass mat, <br />the roots of perennials, and cracks in the soil have absorbed. <br />A large percentage is gradually radiated back into the air by <br />direct radiation and by exhalation of plants. This natural condi- <br />tion encourages clouds of moisture and has a tendency to dis- <br />courage hot dry winds and violent storms. Thus all nature, in- <br />cluding the industrious beaver, tends to slow up and equalize <br />the nIsh of water from the tiny creeks that added together make <br />up the great river called the Missouri. <br /> <br />.... . .' . <br />';. .." . ..' p-, <br />~,,': ~-~>.:. ~:.\:..,.:.:~:(~~\ <br />," . . -. <br /> <br />,,' <br /> <br />',. .. <br /> <br />..'.' , .. ." <br />", ".. .- :~. <br />::. .,' ;:~.~:. ". "~" '.~ ". <br /> <br />;:.:/;~'.~':::~\'.<~:'~:'.}.:~~ II <br />~.~:~~/~.. ~~> ~'-~';'::'~';~:r.. <br /> <br />'." '. <br /> <br />The Missouri River is still an unruly youngster; only its <br />smaJler tributaries have as yet established their beds. The Chey- <br />enne River which drains the Black Hills has only recently eroded <br />'its natural watershed and established the upper half ~f its perm- <br />anent bed. The Yellowstone tributary, after flowing through the <br />centuries with only fifty years association with man, is now a <br />matured matron, dependable, cultured and beautiful: The ten- <br />dency of all rivers to widen their valleys by meandering, then' <br />gradually to build up their valleys and cut a permanent bed is <br />now in progress. Gradually this mature condition will reach the, <br />main channel of the Missouri and creep down the great river <br />towards its junction with the Mississippi River. It will take time, <br />perhaps nine centuries. Meanwhile it evidently cannot be held <br />in channel by singing the old song "River, Keep Away From My <br />Door." Modern science plus modern engineering equipment can <br />reduce centuries of time to years only. Time means nothing <br />to Mother Nature. It took several million pre-man years to evolve <br />the perfect horse and the beautiful deer. <br /> <br />.. <br />.. . .' <br /> <br />.' <br />. '. <br />. ..';._.-...- <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />~~~t?~~ <br /> <br />In a mountain forest brook the water is clear, purified by <br />the filter of dead leaves and soil. Sunlight and oxygen can enter <br />the water to growing alga and aquatic plants, bringing their <br />sparkle and life to the mountain trout. In the sun-soaked, dash- <br />ing air water plants and fish thrive in harmony. The trout has <br />few enemies except man. Trout increase is kept in balance by <br /> <br />'..-:.,~ "";~.:-\ '~':~~~'. <br />~:::" ~ ::~~~':::~'. <X_~~::::,:~.:" <br />::~.;. ".,~ ':'. :-" "-'",:~~- <br />