The San Francisco call., 1903-01-10
WATER SUPPLY
DEPENDS UPON
CARE OF TREES
South Very Anxious to
Have Fire Fighters
Ready.
Special Dispatch to The CAN.

ALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO, Jan. "a. bill will be
n 4 introduced in the Legislature by
~ a southern member looking to the
protection of forest reserves. Some
of the richest sections of Southern Cali
fornia depend upon the San Gabriel re-
serve for a water supply and any forest
fire which covers any great area is
great loss, not only to the ranchers, but
to the people of the smaller towns.
The exact terms of the bill for this
purpose have not been determined, al
though in a general way the members
know what they want. One thing greatly
desired is that it be made possible TO
organize a trained band of fire fighters,
who can be called into service on short
notice and who Will know that they will
be paid promptly for their services An
other proposed provision is for an anx-
iliary forest patrol during the dry sea-
son by State employees. who can assist
the Governments employees in their work
A third provision is for an appropria-
ton to establish telephone lines to the
more prominent points throughout the
reserves so that information concerning
forest fires can be quickly communicated
and help summoned at places where 1t
is most needed to prevent any spread Of
the flames. The measure will have the
support of the Water and Forest Associa-
ton.
Los Angeles will ask this Legislature
for another State building, or to be more
exact, certain persons in Los Angeles,
backed by the Board of State Library
Trustees, will make the request. 1t will
be in the form of bill for the appro-
priation of the sum of 100000 for the
erection in that city of building to be
known as the State historical building
All of the purposes for which this pro-
posed building is desired have not been
stated by those who are preparing the
bill. but among them is that of providing
a place for the preservation and display
of the historical relics of the southern
end of the State. There are in the pos
session of private families in the south
relics which are historically worth thou
sands of dollars and their present owners
have many times expressed Willingness
to part with their treasures whenever the
State provided proper place for their
preservation. The old Spanish families
in the south have numerous articles which
should be thus preserved, relics Of the
campaigns OF General Fremont and other
American commanders. or to go farther
back into the history of the State, relics
OF the urSC coming Oh INC EdllClSCdiA
fathers, who established the chain Of mis-
sions along the coast and converted into
formal Christians the rather docile In
dians. Again, the various homes of
Ramona" Of which there are three or
four In the south. could be induced to
yield their relics to one general colec-
ton.
The Board Of State Library Trustees
will assist In the effort to secure the ap-
preparation for the building, but, con-
sidering the condition OF the State treas
ury, even the champions Of the bill ad-
nit that this session of the Legislature
is not an opportune time for its presen-
tation and that 1t would probably have
a better chance OF success two years
hence. They will present the measure,
nevertheless, If only for the purpose OF
learning the sentiment Of the people on
the subject.
The members Of both the Senate and
| Assembly from San Bernardino and Kern
counties will endeavor to agree upon a
| bill this session which will once and for
| all time settle the long-disputed question
/ of the exact location of the boundary line
! between those counties. The matter has
| been in dispute for years and it has been
| impossible for an owner Of property along
! the line to know to which county to pay
| his taxes and this in some cases has led
/ to unpleasant complications in transfer
| ring property. What the members desire
| is a resurvey of the line and the erection
/ of proper markers or monuments so that
| in future there wilk be no possibility oi
| q dispute.