The San Francisco call., 1904-12-03

The annual convention Of the Califor-
MIA Water and Forest Association,
which was held in the rooms of the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday. was
made interesting by reason of reports
that were received concerning the work
that has been performed by the Gov
ernment engineers and others employed
during the last year by the United
States Government to aid California
in it's attempt to improve its forests
and its uses Of and conservation of
water.
Prominent among those who were
present was a cluster of United States
employees. F. N. Newell, the chief en-
gineer of the reclamation service of the
United States, was there So were j.
b. Lippincott of the United States Geo
logical Survey, w. c. Hodge Jr., Z. A.
Stirling and L. c. Miller of the United
States Bureau of Forestry Professor
Fortier of the agricultural department
of the University of California, Secre-
tary W. E. Colby of the Sierra Club,
Chief Justice Beatty, Marsden Manson
and others well known in this State.
The attendance was not large, but the
body dealt with matters Of great concern
to California.
The subject that largely engrossed
the attention of the delegates was a
proposed law that was submitted for
approval. the purpose Of which Is to
provide for the protection and manage
ment of forest lands within this State.
The measure was prepared after sew
eral conferences by the Bureau of For
estry of the United States in co-opera-
ton with the State of California. in ac-
cordance with an act of the California
Legislature passed at It's last session to
provide for the formulation of a State
forest policy, The act as proposed is in
twenty-five sections Its principal pro-
visions are as follows:
NEW LAW Is PROPOSED.
There shall be a State Board of Forestry. 70
Attorney General and State Forester to super
wise all matters of State forestry. policy and
technically trained forester, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor. Whether a candi-
date. for the position is trained forester
United States Secretary OF Agriculture The
forester shall receive salary of s25CO z year
and have the appointment Of a clerk at $1,000
a year The forester shall execute all mat
ters relating TO forestry under the super
vision of the State Board OF Forestry. direct
the management Of State parks and forests.
collect data relative to forest destruction and
! forest conditions and take such action as is
forest brush and grass fires and prosecute
violators OF laws
The Big Basin redwood park. the Mount
Hamilton tract the Santa Monica forest sta
tion the Chico forest station and the Yosemite
State Park. II the Government authorizes the
change, shall be under the Jurisdiction OF the
State Board OF Forestry and the board shall
have all the powers and duties possessed
by persons or commissions with regard to the
parks and tracts mentioned In the act and
also of any forest or brush land that may
hereafter become permanent State property.
donate to the State Of California or entrust Id
this State any tracts of wholly or partly wood
ed land such shall be administered by the
Board Of Forestry at the expense OF the State
The State Forester shall cooperate with
towns counties. corporations and individuals
in preparing plans for the protection. manage
ment and replacement Of trees. wood lots and
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