The herald., 1898-08-11
the MOUNTAIN FIRES
SHEEP AND CAMPERS CAUSE
DAMAGE TO FORESTS
Board Of Directors Of the Chamber Of
Commerce Meets-Switzerland
Legislates Against Us

At the regular meeting Of the board OF
directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the
committee on lands made its repor
through it's chairman, Director Cass, as
follows:
1.-THE government has recently employed
eight supervisors and fifty-two men to
cover the field from San Jacinto on the
south to the Yosemite on the north, with
power. In case of fire. to employ as many
men as would be needed to extinguish the
fire. The cause of most of the fires Is at
tributed to carelessness on the part OF
campers, and hunting and fishing parties,
and the government is using every effort
to stop the carelessness of such parties.
They are now posting the forests with
linen posters, giving due notice to all of
the laws and penalties for violating the
same. As near as we can find out, there
are between ten and fifteen thousand sheep
south o. Tehachapi. and most of these are
located on private lands, owned by sheep
men, or leased by private owners. The
lines between government lands and pri-
vate property cannot be accurately deter
mined by the government patrol, making
1t impossible to keep the sheep strictly on
are already eaten out and the sheep are
being driven out of the mountains, and we
are informed by Mr.. Allen ample provi-
sions have been made for next year to give
the necessary protection to all reserva
tions In the state south Of the Yosemite,
both as to fires and sheep"
Professor Foshay appeared before the
board in the matter of arranging for the
national educational convention next year
The same was referred to a regular COM
mitee to take up the subject and carry out
suggestions made by the professor. The
special committee appointed to confer with
the war board and Red Cross with refer
ence to procuring a carload of citrus fruit
for the soldiers reported that It was the
opinion of the committee that such guam
titles of lemons as could be obtained
through various channels should be sent
from time to time to the hospital, San
Francisco, and that there have already
been sent thirty boxes of assorted fruits,
and that ten or twelve boxes more will be
forwarded In few days.
San Diego. through the secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce, notified the board
that the matter of retaining the exhibit
1t hall has been favorably considered and
the committee on ways and means are at
work on the proposition. An offer from
A. V. Caps, of that city. to give a free
illustrated lecture on the Hawaiian islands
was referred to the committee on COM
merce.
Director Story offered the following res
olution. which was unanimously adopted
Whereas. the Swiss government is seek
Ing reciprocity treaty with the United
States; and, whereas, the Swiss bundles
rath has taken action prohibiting the i'm
portation of fresh and unpeeied dried
American fruits in Switzerland" and as
most of the fruit imported by the Swiss
comes from California. this most unjust
and onerous legislation will materially at
feet the sale of our fruits In that country;
therefore, be it
Resolved That the Los Angeles cham
Der OF commerce, through its board of d.
rectors. does hereby call the attention NJ
the United States government to this dis
elimination, to the end that Switzerland
shall modify it's harsh decree regarding
American-cured fruits before steps are
taken to ratify treaty