The San Francisco call., 1905-01-04
DEFINITE FOREST
POLICY rs WANTED
IN GOLDEN STATE

1t is we'll known that the cutting Of
large areas of timber, and the pur-
chase by spectators Of still larger
areas, with the presumed Intent or
telling and marketing the lumber pro-
duct, threaten the premature exhaus-
ton of one of California's most pre-
cious resources. In view of these facts
California could have entered upon no
wiser course than it did in providing
for the serious study Of her forest
problems.
Our civilization rests upon the right
of the individual to have and to hold
property, real, personal and mixed.
This right needs to be jealousy
guarded and yet such rights are not
recognized as absolute. Each owner
must so use his own as not to injure
another's property" Especially is it
true that no Individual or generation
of individuals can be permitted to de-
stroy an inheritance. Regard must be
had for the welfare of generations yet
unborn. We, who are here now, will
In time pass away, but the common
wealth of California will endure, and
1t is for an enduring commonwealth,
rather than for present generation.
that you gentlemen are called together
in order that you may legislate.
There will be laid before you q care
fully drawn bill providing for definite
forest policy for California Without
venturing to pass upon its merits in
advance of thorough public and legis-
lative discussion, commend 1t to your
careful consideration. The co-opera-
tive forestry work carried on during
the last two years by the State in
collaboration with the United States
Bureau of Forestry has proven highly
beneficial in an educational sense, and
L FvrI1 hnf hA
carried on for two years more under
the same arrangement.
In fact / am led to hope that the OBJ
tanning of expert knowledge as to how
to deal with forestry problems, includ-
ing the prevention of forest fires and
the rehabilitation Of deforested areas,
and the giving of a wide publicity to
that knowledge, may, of itself, go far
toward evolving q useful, though vol
untary policy of forest preservation
In the event that the Legislature is
unable to see it's way clear to adopt
a perfected rest-preServation policy
at this time, may it not be wise to
attempt at least tentative legislation
looking to that end?
The extension of the work OF the
College Of Agriculture of the University
is a subject which will probably en-
gage the attention of this Legislature.
as 1t engaged that Of the last The
Importance of agricultural education is
now recognized everywhere, even in
quarters where 1t would have received
little consideration a few years ago;
and increased provision for such educa-
tion is being made in all the great
States, the leading industries of some
of which have been reorganized and
made more profitable than ever through
the work of agricultural scientists,
No other State. perhaps, has in this
subject so deep an interest as Cali
fornia, whose products, soils, and cli-
mates are so varied, and whose special
problems are so numerous The suc-
cessful employn : of irrigation and
the growing Of the specialized crops
which the local conditions make posi-
bic, call for a higher standard of
scientific information among tiIlers of
the SOIL than is requisite for the pro-
duction OF ordinary staples in other
sections of our country While the
holding of Farmers Institutes and tha
publication of bulletins from the State
Agricultural College may considerably
inform the adult farming population.
there is growing feeling among
thoughtful persons that our educational
system should be the means of rearing
up a generation Of young persons
attracted by intelligent interest to
agricultural pursuits.
Already the State has profited largely
by the Investigations and experiments
conducted by the College of Agricul
ture, winch has done great deal of
valuable research work and has edu-
Gated a number of specialists of higb
standing. The equipment of the COL
lege in buildings and facilities. how
ever, is inadequate to meet the de-
mands laid upon It.