Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-20
OUR MOUNTAIN FORESTS.
A Very Suggestive Letter From the
Chief Of Forestry.
u. s.. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF FORESTRY.

| u. .. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF FORESTRY.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 10, 1892.
Abbot Kinney, Esq, Lamanda California:
| DEAR SIR: regret to learn that the
misrepresentation OF interested parties
have weight enough with the people ol
California in hindering the wise policy
just inaugurated, of reserving some ol
the mountain forest cover, and manag-
ing it with more sense and more consid.
Grafton both of it's value as material
resource and protection to stable water
conditions, than has prevailed hitherto.
For self-governing people we govern
ourselves badly indeed, when we allow
transient Eheep-herders, irresponsible
land-steerers, selfish lumber syndicates
and the like, for their own present gain,
to use up, wantonly destroy and render
unproductive one of our most important
resources without any regard to conse-
quences.
There are many foolish things done in
this world, but the most utterly foolish,
because self-destructive, going on in the
United States, appears to me now the
vandalistic, uncivilized manner in which
forest growth is being destroyed or de-
Perforated.
Is it possible that there are still read
ing and observing men that are ignorant
of the end and result OF such policy
Are you, in sCalifornia, still in such
crude and undeveloped condition that
the thought of the future-and that the
near future-need not to be considered
in the management of your resources
Is there anybody in the fertile valley
who does not know that his interest lies
in permanent water supplies? Is there
anybody so ignorant as not to know
that the permanency of an equable
water supply depends upon the condi-
ton in which the mountain slopes are
kept? Recite to them the history of
France in those mountain departments
where the same foolish disregard OF con-
sequence has led poverty of thousands,
where to restore the natural conditions
nearly $40, 900, 900 have been, and as
many more millions will be expended
for replanting the barren rocks, made SO
by ak, sheep and fire. And it is not the
tree growth alone, the tall timber,
which influences the water supply, but
much more, the sorest floor and under
growth which keeps the sun out and
prevents rapid evaporation, and equal
ICES the flow of springs, brooks and
rivers and the forest floor is difficult to
replace, when once destroyed by fire
and sheep.
Can you not make your people see
that? Can you not also make them un-
derstand that proper forest management
does not'exclude timber cutting, mining,
water storing-even pasturing in proper
places? 1t is only the manner in which
these things are done at present, that is
reprehensible. 1t is only the wanton-
ness and lack of forethought and method
with which the timber is cut, or much
oftener burned, the forest floor and
young growth is destroyed, that leads to
ruin not only of the forest resource
itself, but of the fertility of adjoining
agricultural lands.
cannot see any reason, if we are as
smart people as we pride ourselves, why
we might not manage our forest re-
sources as wisely and proftably as is
done now in France and for a longer
time in the German empire, a manage
ment under which the timber is cut and
reproduced and with all the profits re-
sulting from marketing the crop, the
forest conditions are carefully preserved
so as not to disturb water conditions.
How this is to be done seems to me
clear enough. First withdraw and re-
serve for permanent forest reserves the
mountain timber lands; protect them
from fire and keep out the trampling,
browsing herds of sheep; regulate the
manner in which the reserves may be
occupied by prospectors, miners, camp
ers, hunters, etc.; institute a manage
ment under which timber can be sup
piled to adjoining settlers, as well as to
the small sawmill men, and, if there be
sufficient areas of heavy timber, to large
lumber operators, under a system of
licenses as described fully in senate bill
1779, fiftieth congress; supervise the
cutting of the timber and regulate it, so
that there will be desirable natural re-
production, and if the profits permit,
begin replanting the barren spots, which
the thoughtless policy Of our predeces-
sors have left us as an undesirable her
itage.
Above all things open the eyes of the
people that listen to those who counsel
against such course, to the fact that
they are being duped by men who will
use them simply as tools for their selfish
ends. Very truly yours,
B. E. FERNow,
Chief of Forestry Division.