The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
How
To Preserve
The Great
Forests Of California.
Their Value.
Written for
1.-THE Cail''
BY Henry ". Kruckeberg.

Professor Runnebeaum, the eminent for
ester OF Berlin who recently made a tour
OF observation on this coast, is quoted as
predicting the end of American forests in
the near future unless protected from the
ruthfess advance Of the ak and dangers
OF IRE. While the enlightened nations of
EUROPE are endeavoring to protect and en-
large rhelr forest areas, it seems to be the
inherent policy of the American Nation to
destroy the virgin forest in its greed Ito get
all there is in it," "If nothing is done by
your Government" said the professor,
.'the rising generation may live TO see the
day that lumber is shipped from Germany
to Puget Sound"
Startling as the statement may appear
TO the ordinary reader, the student OF
forestry conditions in this country realizes
that 1t Is not az impossibility. A careful
survey of all the facts bearing on the pres
ent reckless destruction of our arboreal
wealth reveals a condition of things that
IS appalling. Reliable data concerning
the annual consumption of lumber in this
country are not available except in general
terms. In round figures it is put at from
y, 600, 100000 to q 600, 600 coo feet, or about
$50 feet per capita.
The rapid disappearance of the timber is
torclbly shown by the fact that in Michi-
gan in 1887, 217, 104 ,965 feet of white pine
was cut, as against sos, 134,656 feet in
1850 decrease of standing white pine
trees OF so per cent The same relative de-
crease holds good OF the finer soft woods
IN California; of the frs and spruces in
Oregon and Washington; and in fact of
the visible supply of merchantable tim her
generally. The annual cut of lumber is
put at money value OF over 81 000, 600, eco,
exceeding the total values OF the leading
agricultural staples of the country. At
the present rate OF destruction, in less han
fifty years this country-and that includes
California-will have to adopt scientific
forestry methods in order to supply its
needs of forest products.
But the commercial value of forests and
their products is only a single phase of the
forestry question, and to Californians not
OF the most Importance. Owing to the
prevailing conditions of soils and climates,
this, OF all the States in Uncle Sans
domain, is one of horticulture and agricul-
ture. Here the kingly orange and the
queenly olive vie with the luscious peach
and money making prune in yielding big
returns TO growers. The three great SUD-
divisions Of our lands are desert or open
lands, brush lands and forest lands.
All told, the State comprises so, S27, 900
acres. OF this number possibly 100000,
or about 1873 Fer cent, are more or less
imnro we'd; 81 per cent may be classed as
brush, forest and open lands. More &C
curately stated, is per cent is true forest
land. &c per cent brush and 43 per cent
oper country. The forest and brush land
equals the desert or open land. In other
words, the lands may be classified as
humid, sub humid ana arid. The first in
Guides the timber belts comprising the
higher mountain ranges; the second those
areas where crops can be protiiably grown
without the artificial application OF water
TO the soil, while the third comprises the
so-calIed desert areas where irrigation is
essential to the succs ssful practice of horti-
culture and agriculture. The timber belt
being humid, it naturally acts as a store
house for the precious waters which are
to irrigate he lower lands aligning it dur
ing the long ana dry summers.
Hence we see that the conservation of
the forests in California is more essential
TO her future progress than in any of the
States east Of the Rocky Mountains. For
it goes without saying that horticulture is
our basic industry, which necessarily de-
Ponds for its greatest perfection upon the
artificial application OF water to the soil.
To insure an even and abundant supply Of
water for our orchards and vineyards from
the mountain streams fed by melting
SHOWS demands the protection and main
tenance of the forest covering along our
mountain ranges.
The conservation of the California forests
thus presents economic considerations that
do not so forcibly apply &c prevailing con-
ditions in humid region.
The carpet of ANIMALS, perennials and
shrubs with which she covers her forest
areas build up soil and environment Pc
culiarly adapted to the production OF for
est growth.
Another reason for forest conservation
has to do with climate and our attractions
to people from all parts of the world. Cali
fornia is essentially a country for tourists
and health and pleasure seekers.
Beyond their value for lumber and as
conservers of our water sources, the forests
of California have purely commercial
value as attractions to the strangers always
within our gates. Possibly an idea of
what this horde OF pleasure and health
seekers means to the country in cold
American dollars may be learned from the
TACT that no less than some 10000 strangers
are now In and about Los Angeles, who