Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-18
OUR FORESTS.
Second Biennial Report of the California
State Board of Forestry.

Second Biennial Report of the California
State Board of Forestry.
The second biennial report OF the Cali
fornia State Board of Forestry, just issued
from the State Printing Office, is one of the
most important of State publications. 1t
is well written, comprehensive, and valu-
able acquisition to State literature. A
very important question for the interests
of the State is the protection of the great
mountain watersheds, from which the
springs and streams used for navigation
and irrigation derive their supplies.
The destruction and extinction of forests
upon steep mountain sides has been fire.
quent occurrence in the history of civilized
countries. One certain consequence has
invariably flowed from such conduct. Dis
tricts SO treated have become progressively
dry and arid. Springs and streams
have diminished in permanent flow of
water. or have altogether dried up. Fertil-
ity of soil and returns to agriculture have
diminished, together with population and
wealth. On the other hand, such rains as
fall tend to become diluvial in character.
The mountain watersheds, deprived of all
means OF OBTAINING the rainfall. shed it
like roof, and destructive torrents form,
cutting away good lands in one place and
covering others with the rough debris of
the denuded mountains. The debris of
the hydraulic mines in this State is infini-
tesimal and innocent in its damages to
what must occur if the high Sierras are
unduly denuded of their forest covering.
In such case the rains must flow off
more rapidly and the SHOWS melt more
suddenly than at present. Thus the per-
ennial value of the streams for irrigation
must diminish, and sudden and destruc-
tive floods are certain to occur. The his
tory of such countries as Palestine, Persia,
Greece North Africa, Spain and the south
OF France demonstrates the results of I'M
wise forest extinction, especially upon
mountains. In the single valley of the
Durance two hundred thousand acres of
fertile valley lands have been covered by
the debris and torrents of the denuded
watershed of that river. That California
viii prove no exception to the rule is
shown by the instance of the diminution
of springs and Streams and the formation
OF torrents in this State, due to forest de-
structlon, collected and presented with
time, place and witnesses in our last re-
port.
Now that these mountain watersheds in
forest, so important TO the irrigators
farmers, and consequently to all persons in
the State, have generally passed into private
hands, there seems but one way left to deal
with the question; this way is by education
of the people to demonstrate that a wasteful
and unsicentific destruction of forests upon
critical points of important watersheds,
while temporarily beneficial in few thou
sand dollars to some individuals, threatens
millions of dollars of property to Others
Thus the carelessness or improvidence of
one man in the mountains may destroy the
property and the means of livelihood of
thousands of his fellow citizens IN the val
leys below. This point established. lesis-
lation in the line of the forestry laws of
other experienced and civilized countries
can be had.
We will then have reasonable regula-
ton OF numbering methods upon import
ant watersheds OF the State, with view of
preserving the integrity of our springs and
streams for the productive interests of the
State. No doubt cause of action would
lay against any one who by such use, even
of his own forest property, did damage to
his neighbors, either by diminishing their
water supply or by so suddenly augment
ing 1t in the form of torrents as to DESTROY
their property. Such remedy will be the
States last resort and can only be relied on
after great damage has been done. Wise
measures should prevent such serious in
juries to the people.
The active attention of the Board has
been given not only to the preservation of
our forests, but also to the planting of trees
for economic and ornamental purposes.
Our native trees have been too much
neglected, but with the exception OF the
Monterey pine they are generally of slow
growth especially in dry situations The
foreign trees introduced have disadyan-
tages in most cases, and that extraordinary
grower, the blue gum of Tasmania is not
capable of supporting the frosts of many
OF our interior points, nor the excessive
drought of others. 1t happens that the
very places where trees would be of the
greatest advantage are those where the
trees usually relied on for planting will
not succeed, or do but poorly