The San Francisco call., 1899-02-11
TO CONSERVE
THE WATERS
AND FORESTS
Features of the Act
Desired.
SEEK FEDERAL COOPERATION
WANT A COMMISSIONER OF
IRRIGATION.
The Measure Will Be Backed by a
Message From the Governor.
Special Committee for
Sacramento.

The California Water and Forest So
clety, which is an outgrowth of the re-
cent miners convention, through its ex-
ecutlve committee, transacted important
business at its meeting yesterday after
noon. A few days ago a special commit
tee went to Sacramento to ascertain Gov
ernor Cages sentiment toward the move
ment for the conservation of the waters
and forests of the State. Their request
Ior an audience was answered by the
statement that they would be granted fif-
teen minutes. AT the expiration of an
hour and a quarter the committee arose.
but the Governor asked them TO remain
and further elaborate their proposition.
The outcome of the conference was the
announcement by the executive that the
enterprise would have his hearty support
and furthermore that he would send
special message to the Legislature advo-
eating the passage of the measure pro-
posed by the society.
The legislation which is thus called for
provides for the appointment of Com
missioner of Irrigation, whose duty 1T
shall be to cooperate with the United
States Geological Survey in surveys
storing flood waters for irrigation, min
ing and industrial purposes. 1t is stipu-
lated that the commissioner snail receive
no salary and that he is to hold once
at the pleasure of the Governor. The
measure. however, calls for the appro-
priation of $4,000, to be. distributed
of Irrigation. on the approval Of the State
Board of Examiners, with the unoer,
standing that the United States Geological
Survey will expend an equal sum III coh-
nection with said WORK
Another provision of the proposed law
is that commission be appointed Tor the
purpose of devising means to preserve the
forests of the State from destruction by
fires and Wanton depreciation, ana TO re-
port to the Governor the result or their
fabors. A striking feature of the desired
act is the provision that untn such COM
mission shall have reported to the Gov
ernor upon the matters lntruSted 10 their
care no legislative action shan be taken
toward the acceptance OF the proposeo
donation by Congress of million acres
of arid lands.
In accordance with resolution embrac-
ing the foregoing propositions, onered by
ex-Judge C. h. Lindley, committee was
appointed, consisting Of President J. M
Gleaves, Chairman ]. M: Walling OF the
executive committee and Z. ii. Llndley,
John P. Irish and Julian Sonntag, to pro-
ceed to Sacramento on next Thursday
and submit to Governor Gage the draft
of the bill embodying the requirements
of the society.
Notwithstanding the fact that the bill
win be an administration measure, it will
be part of the duties Of the committee
Legislature of the necessity to take ia
vorable action on the matter Another
task with which the committee is in
trusted is the promotion of an act to re-
peal a certain statute created by the last
Legislature in the interest of private
parties. Through the provisions of this
law water rights have been appropriated
purposely calculated to interfere with the
construction of the big debris dam that
is to be built with the $500, 900 appropriated
for that purpose several years ago. The
officials of the society state that unless
this law is repealed it will cause a great
deal of trouble when the construction of
these restraining dams begins.