The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

gained impetus at Ross Valley yesterday.
At the invitation Of the Lagunitas Club
and the Tamalpais Forestry Association
there was a meeting at the club grounds
and plans were discussed for the purchase
Of a large forest reserve or Mount Tamal-
pals.
Distinguished advocates Of forest pres
ervaton were present and made speeches.
clifford Pinchot, chief Of the United States
Bureau Of Forestry: President David
starr Jordan Of Stanford and William
Kent, & tireless advocate Of the park.
were the principal orators of the occa-
sion. They showed the advantages of
preserving the scenic grandeur and
primeval freshness Of the woodlands Of
the beautiful mountain.
A number Of San Franciscans attended
the meeting and the city delegation was
met by a reception committee. most Of
them women OF the Lagunitas Club.
The conference was held at the tennis
court and by $3.50 o'clock the audience was
comfortably seated on benches and camp
stools. William Kent, a prominent advo-
cate Of the park. was chairman As one
OF the fathers OF the undertaking he felt
that an explanation was due and he said
IN part:
by the courtesy Of the Lagunitas
Country Club and under the auspices Of
are met TO inaugurate a great work.
MATURE CALLS MEN.
Whatever occupation man may follow.
there is planted within him a need Of
nature. calling gently 10 him At times TO
come and enjoy, imperiOusly commanding
at other times to seek recuperation and
strength. From the boUnuful mother
man is never weaned. and the attempt in
crowded cities means but physical. moral
and civic degradation.
ct is pitiful TO see hundreds dragging
their way along the confines Of the county
road. warned on every side Of awful
penalties AT the hands OF stern justice If
they cross the 1ence in trespass. But we
have our side Of the story. We have
oficiated nights and Sundays and many
an independence day in endeavoring to
put out fires that the needless have light
ed our trees are hacked. our flowers
picked, and stray rife balls and deer
hounds too seldom make the proper con-
nection. The less we fight people the
more we fight fire. hence our apparent
hostility to what is a public need
1T is because our unlimited guests
with traditions running back to sand lots
and vigilance committees make the same
old mistake OF confusing anarchy with
Independence. license with liberty, and
All OF US are TO blame.
BEARS ARE PETS.
'sThe history Of Yellowstone Park shows
how easily people may be trained to de-
cencv IN their treatment OF nature Even
the bears Of Yellowstone Park are re-
carded as pets. When the competitive
motive is removed there comes higher
endowment in watching wild things than
in destroying them
II would 20 very far with peas in my
shoes TO see an inch or two Of bayonet
applied TO some vandals / have met, but
am sure that 90 per cent Of the now
beedIess public would appreciate and en-
5o,- the appIication TO the other fellow.
that other fellow would be eliminated by
the mere presence Of authority.
.sThat authority for many reasons
eborId be the authority Of the national
Government
s-T7irst and foremost, because the park
. we are going TO secure is a forest park
and because under the wise and devoted
service Of our distinguished guest, Mr..
Finchot. the nation is developing mag
rriGccnt bureau Of forestry. In connec-
ton with the regular work of this bureau
there IS an urgent call for our great uni
versities to rear up practical foresters,
and ia ali the State Of California there is
no one place where the problems or tree
culture and water conservation can De 50
advantageously studied as on Mount ram
alpais.
PARK SCHEME GOOD.