The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-14

the forests, setting forth the penalties
for forest incendiarism did some good
in an educational way. The timber steal
ing cases caused a more general pur-
chase Of timber lands by numbering cor
porations, and SO was of doubtful ulti-
mate advantage to true forestry Inter-
ests In that these lands will probably,
in many cases, eventually have to be
bought back. The California state for
estry work may have been of advantage
in an educational way, and certainly did
promote forest tree planting. but as far
as true forestry work is concerned 1t
was always in the air and without any
means of getting onto firm ground. The
final wreck and loss of it's lands, sta
tons, trees and property, and the col
lapse of its forestry work, was due to its
capture by practical politicians and its
use for the reward of political activities.
Thus It's work, formerly in the forests,
was transferred to the saloons, prima-
ries and politics of the large state cities
OF San Francisco and Los Angeles. The
two points demonstrated by this history
are:
First-That any practical forestry
system must have control of and be in
charge of the forest lands, which for
this purpose must be segregated or
permanently defined as such.
Second-That the rank and file Of it's
employees must be recruited on lines of
S.Ae~A vi hHu tdpdCIty anu lIIuoL NC ctils1
remain absolutely free from any per-
sonal or political influence. There has
Deen FOR a long time excellent educa-
tional and advisory work done by the
division of forestry at Washington. The
lnteillgence and spirit with which this
work has been done makes It all the
more regrettable that the powers of this
division were not greater.
CONDITIONS FOR FORESTRY PLAN
This plan should be divided into two
parts. First, that for immediate adop-
ton; and, second, that to which we aim
as an ultimate plan ofnational forestry.
Inc government lands in forest with
Whlch L am somewhat acquainted ex-
tend from the eastern line OF the Rocky
nountains to the Pacific ocean. In
western Washington, Western Oregon
ana northwestern California one OF the
srandest timber forests of the world
IS found. Extensive districts through
cut this territory are now in private
hands. but vast area is still public land
Most of this district Is rolling or noun
talnous. In the rest of the area named
the forests are confined to the noun
tains. Along the Rocky mountain range
fine forests exist. while along the Sierra
Nevada in California there is a magnifi-
tent forest which contains, among many
superb trees, the giant sequoia In the
broken ranges between these two and
continuing them south, and also along
the California coast range south of San
Francisco, more or less valuable forests
exist. In many of these southern dis
tricts the mountain covering is largely
of chapparal or brush. In these districts
it is the integrity of the water sheds that
Is of greatest importance. The govern
ment forest and park reservations now
take in important areas throughout the
west. but am not prepared to say ex-
actIy what the proportion is between
these reserves and the forest areas I'M
reserved. The interests of the water
sheds alone demand that all the west
ern mountain forest areas should be re-
served and conservatively managed with
the one object ever in view of prevent
ing any complete forest denudation. The
character of this western climate is gem
orally dry; for the most part it's seasons
may be divided into wet and dry one.
Its northwestern corner has a heavy
rainfall. The eastern sections have not
well defined wet and dry seasons. The
general character of the greater part of
the country is arid, and it's largest hope
Is in the maintenance and extension Of
irrigation. 1t Is for this that the noun
tain watersheds must be preserved. The
greatest danger to the forests is fire.
This danger exists in the summer and
fall in the whole of this section. In the
southern part of this western territory
danger from fire exists more or less dur
Ing the whole year. Scattered about in
t0lS entlTc country uTc mineral uepOSltS,
some rich and now worked, others that
are known and will be worked as pro-
cesses improve or transportation cheap
ems. Other valuable mineral deposits
doubtless remain to be discovered.
A FOREST SYSTEM.
First. that for immediate employment:
Assignment of all available federal SOL
diers to patrol duty in the public forests
during the fire season. If the troops
available for such service cannot cover
the ground wholly, assign them to the
most important districts. Infantry is as
good as cavalry for this purpose, and In
many districts much better Some judg-
ment should be used in selecting the
arm of the service for particular dis
tricts. Incidentally it may be remarked
that the patrol service in the Yosemite
has not only protected the forests. but
has improved the physical. mental and
moral condition of the men and the
should follow the lines of the Yosemite
patrol and carry into effect the govern
ment laws and regulations.
All government forest lands should be
reserved from sale until competent Of
ficers shall report what areas should re-
main under public control for the high
est public interest.
Laws of regulations should at once
recognize mining within the reserves as
legitimate industry and provide means
OF preventing abuses.
All persons entering the public for
ests except to go through them on rec
ognized roads should be required to have
pass or permit. This pass syst m, GER
tainly at the start. should be on broad
and liberal lines. 1t would act to in
crease the prudence of campers or pros
pectors and provide the patrol with
means of knowing who it had to deal
with in the forest.
The patrol would, of course, have the
duty of putting out such forest fires as
started as we'll as of preventing them.
In no case, however, can the old adage
of IAN ounce of prevention" be so
well worth the pound of cure" as in
the case of forest fires.
With this preliminary work should be
instituted forest school to provide COM
petent, skilled officers for the future for
est work. This might be a branch of
West Point In any case it should fol-
low the military type of organization.
The forest officers and men should form
a part of the military defensive system
of the :lation.
PERMANENT FOREST SYSTEM.
Should be organized on a scientific-mil-
lows: A central superior forest officer,
the forest work. These would be intro
duced gradually, and supplement the
strictly military patrol in the protec-
ton of the forests, and inaugurate
body of men who would be skilled in
the civil management of the forests.
Their duties would include the regula-
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