The San Francisco call., 1907-06-08
COUNTIES COMMITTEE
MEETS IN PETALUMA
Forestry and Irrigation the
Subject of the Days
Discussion

PETALUMA, June THE conven-
ton of the counties committee of the
California Promotion committee met in
Petaluma this morning. Forestry and
Irrigation in California" was discussed
at length. There were IL stated ad-
dresses in addition to the general
speech making. In the evening a ban
quet was given by the ladies Of Peta-
luna.
In speaking of irrigation in the San
Joaquin valley, f. w. Yokum, -secre-
tary of the Merced county chamber of
commerce said it was a great deal
cheaper to impound the water in the
mountains than to take care of it after
il reached the valley by leveeing the
streams. He gave the history OF frriga-
tion in the valley from the time aban-
doned miners bitches were used to con-
vey water. He spoke of the effect on
streams of good forests on watersheds
and closed, with a short history OF the
drainage system.
W. A. Beard. executive officer of the
National Irrigation congress, in speak
ing of Irrigation in the SacrameMo
Valley said in part:
The fifteenth session of the national irriga-
tion congress will be held in Sacramento in
September and all who are interested In the
development Of any Of the great plans OF the
troll and utilization OF waters of the west are
interested in this session. The vast Importance
OF the @ w ns IN eyse
portion OF this country. and we expect that 1t
wia be. in point of attendance. in representa-
tive character and in the measure OF its re-
suits. the greatest national convention ever held
TELLS OF EARLY WORK
Francis Cutie, chairman of the tri-
counties reforestation committee,
spoke of the early work of tree plant
ing and the beginning of the fruit in
dustry of the state. He described the
efforts to Introduce the orange and
showed the results as they appear to-
day.
Professor Samuel Fortier of the Uni
versity of California and the United
States irrigation service said in part:
Irrigation makes gardens and orchards out
Of desert places of the state: it increases the
yield of both field and orchard in localities
where a rainless summer robs the soil Of its
moisture: it tends subdivide the large estates
into small irrigated holdings; IL converts low
producing grain ranches into fntensiveiy culti-
vated small fields; il adds greatly to the number
of diversified farms: it Increases the exports
of all soil products; Ii does away with the
rural settlements; it provides most OF the adj
vantages of both country and city life: IL con-
stitutes the safe anchor Of the state by the es-
tablishment OF an ever increasing number Of
prosperous farm homes
In his response to the address of
welcome Chairman Andrea Sbarboro
said in part:
The hearty welcome which the California Pro-
wherever we have held our semiannual con-
ventions Is due to the fact that the people OF
California know something of the great good
which this association accomplishes for the en-
tire state. Supported by the progressive people
of San Francisco. 1t disseminates Information Of
the inexhaustibIe resources OF our state throngh-
out the wide world and thus assists the poou-
lating OF our great state with desirable people.
F. E. Olmstead, district inspector for
California, United States forestry
service. who took the place of Chief
subject The Use of California's Ma
tional Forests"
PARDEE MAKES ADDRESS
DR.. George C. Pardee. former gov
ernor Of California, zaid in part:
The histories Of other countries. as well az
those OF parts OF our own nation and state.
prove TO us tnat the forests are necessary ad-
5uncts OF any and all schemes OF continuous
and successful irrigation. For without the for
ests the melting SHOWS and rains of the noun
tafns run on In floods. filling the streams in
winter and spring and leaving them dry IN
summer and autumn, when more than at any
other season Of the year water Is needed for
irrigation. 1t Is not claimed that denudatfo1
Of the forested mountains causes q decrease in
the amount of snow and rain that falls upon
beneath the standing forests act as alters for
the water that falls upon them and holds IL
Ddck so tnat II Is dealt out the streams and
rivers through longer part of the year.
G. B. Lull. chief forester OF the state
of California, spoke on 1.-THE Forest
Laws of California" and gave an ex-
haustive review of laws, their applica-
tion and of the needs to make these
laws more effective, and for new laws
that would combine the state and vari-
Gus counties in harmonious work for
the betterment of conditions. He told
of the need of forest protection and
what was being done in this matter. as
well as of the scant protection that IL
being given under present conditions.
Lewis Z. Aubury, state mineralogist
of California, in speaking on the sub
ject of the preservation Of forests, SAID
in part:
Those who have studied conditions In oIdsr
coun0es which at one time were well foresred
treasure-the forests. We Of California know
full well the benefits arising from our present
IS to xsy pters IN sna our how
Apparently II is the intention OF the public
lands convention that Is to meet in Denver on
June IS to take particularly vigorous slap ut
the president in connection with his forestry
policy and to start campaign to undo all the
good that 1t has accomplished
INDORSE PRESIDENTS POLICY
Aubury discussed this matter at
length and then introduced the fol-
lowing resolution, which was adopted:
Whereas. certain opposition has been created
drawing from entry certain forested lands IN the
United States and designating the same foress
reserves; and whereas, we believe that for a
servation of water that such policy Is neces-
Resolved. by the counties committee OF the
assembled, that We heartily indorse the act