Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-27
MR.. cAMInErFrs RESOLUTION.

MR.. CAMIEErFpE RESOLUTION.
Nearly ten years ago this journal began
the agitation relative to forest preservation
on this coast. Il has called the attention
of each succeeding Legislature to the SUBJ
ject. 1t made special examination into the
wooded sections, as to the extent of the
damage being inflicted. Unpublished elab-
crate reports Of the results of forestry ex-
pertinent and research in Europe. 1t
pointed out, time and again, how rapidly
the very finest specimens of the cone.bear-
ers were being exterminated. We have
presented the reports Of the officers en-
ployed by the census bureau on this sub.
ject. We have shown beyond doubt or
contradiction that unless we protect the
wooded slopes from destruction, we would
soon reach a time when floods would be
certain and excessive in storm seasons,
while rivers would run dry in summer. We
have repeatedly pointed out the intimate
relation the forestry question bears to
proper system of irrigation. In short, there
is no phase of the question that we have
not treated. By the declination of Legis-
latures to active have not been discouraged,
being aware that there is little reason
to expect measure of Importance to all
the people Of the State to be taken up un.
less it involved political issue or partisan
ends. We have all these years, however,
had the support and Endorsement OF the
thinking press of the State, and the en-
couragement to continue the agitation has
been gratifying. Now, at the fsg end of a
session, there comes evidence that even
partisan legislators cannot ignore. The
floods on the Rhine and Danube are traced
directly to denudation of forest lands. The
floods on the rivers of the west are proven
to have been caused primarily by the I'm.
natural clearance of tiinbsFed lands. New
York, becoming frightened at the danger
threatening her great rivers, peremptorily
forbids further destruction of timber, and
takes steps looking toward forest culture.
Kansas, Nebraska, and western States gen.
orally, discover that climatic changes of an
undesirable character are taking place, and
that they are due to timber destruction,
and at once adopt measur to encourage
tree planting. The Guardian of Yosemite,
in alarm, reports that presently we shall
have only rocks and lofty granite walls to
show the visitors in Yosemite Wiley, for
the cascades and falls are being destroyed
by the merciless inroads of the hsrder and
woodman-after all this, and our re-
peated solicitation, seconded I by the
press of the State, Mr.. caminetti
rises IN sne Assembly and offersI resolu-
ton requesting the State Mineralo gist to ex-
anime into the matter and report the result
Of his inquiries at the next session of the
Legislature. The people are indebted to
Mr.. Caminetti /; certainly he has the credit
of having awakened to the magnitude of
the subject, and to some conception of it's
immediate Importance. Early in the ses-
sion we suggested commission, to be
chosen from among gentlemen interested in
arboriculture, as are the Fish Commits
sioners from among those interested in
pisciculture, who would willingly serve
without compensation, as have other Com
missioners, and report fully all the facts two
years hence. Professor Hanks is eminently
qualified for the work Mr.. Caulinetti out
lines for him; but does the gentleman from
Amador suppose for moment that PROBES.
sor Hanks will be able to do the subject
justice sitting in his office and without
means to visit every part of the State
necessary? Does he expect him to attend
to the new duty aud that of his office
besides, and pay the necessary expenses
out of the sum allowed for the State Min
eralogist's Department, and which is lin
tied enough now? If Mr.. Caminetti does
not mean to burlesque this business, let
him ask the Legislature to provide Profess
sor Hanks with means sufficient to enable
him to do the work well. It would be no
appropriation worth the mention to provide
the sum of $1,000 to enable the official
in the next two years to visit
the regions necessary, and meet the
expenses consequent upon travel to the
higher reaches of the Sierras, along ridges
and slopes 400 miles in extent, to say
nothing of the inner and coast ranges.
Two thousand dollars would scarcely
suffice, provided the examination made is
to be of any value. A devoted arboricult-
urist of this city, who is constantly collect
ing the seeds of our forest trees and ship
ping them to Europe, where, by tree
planting, they are attempting to atone for
the errors of the past, has spent more than
that sum in his own private examination
into the matter of forest destruction.
Surely the State can do as much for itself.
But we shall not be disappointed if Mr..
Caminetti's resolution goes by the board,
and his good intentions fall fruitless to the
ground they certainly should, if the
houses do not set aside sum sufficient to
enable this feeble effort on the part Of the
State to be nursed into life; and if they do,
no relief, assuming it is needed, can be
had for four, perhaps six years, as the
Tahoe forestry measure is limited and
does not touch the watershed of California.
In the meantime the face of Nature may
be SO modified by the vandalism of man in
California that Mr.. Caminetti's grand.
children will deem any place in the world
moro desirable for residence than the val
leys Of this State.
PRIESTLY BANKING.
Another church bank has failed, and the
Catholic people of Lawrence, Maasachu-