Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-06

ment In favor Of scientific methods, re-
forestation and cutting by selection Is
stronger in California than In any other
part of the country, and there Is a bill
pending before our legislature authoriz-
Ing the appointment of a commission, TO
regulate private forests and to prohibit
the unnecessary destruction of young
timber.
Like Bill in Maine Legislature.
This bill is similar to one that was
proposed in the legislature Of Maine last
winter. 1t was submitted to the supreme
court of that state for an opinion as to
it's constitutionality. The court decided
unanimously that it was constitutional,
and it probably will be passed at the next
session.
This decision was based upon the or
binary police power conferred upon the
legislature to protect property. The court
acquired ownership with the understand
ing that timber is one Of the most i'm
portant resources of the state, and is
valuable not only for lumber, but as a
watershed to protect the sources Of the
streams and prevent the wastage of the
rainfall. If this protection were removed
In reckless way 1t would be a public
injury, and other interests would suffer.
The court held that ownership and control
Of property is private only SO far as 1t
uOe6 not luleIIeTe WIN the interests Ol
other people. II a forest Is removed
in such way as to dry up the sources
of streams and interfere with the natural
disposition of the rainfall, such an act
must be considered beyond private rights,
and should be prevented by law and the
exercise Of police authority. AS an H.
lustration, the court said that the owner
Of house or any other building had
no right to set 1t on fire 1t there was any
danger OF the flames spreading to the
property OF others. No man has any right
to burn his grass II there is any pos
sibility OF the fire extending beyond the
limits of his own property. For similar
reasons the owners Of forest lands have
no right to remove the trees if the
property or the privileges enjoyed by
The legislature as representative Of the
people has the power to limit the number
Of trees that should be cut from a forest
provided 1t is necessary or expedient for
the public welfare.
I'VE have similar bill pending in
our legislature" said Mr.. LulI, and It
will undoubtedly pass at the next ses-
sion. I do not know Of any opposition
to it. At least none has developed thus
far, but we are anxious first to get the
lumbermen organized in support of the
measure, because they are really most
deeply interested.
There has never been much opposition
IN California to the forestry policy Of the
n
orally give it their hearty support. and
the lumber companies have recognized
from the first that the forest reserves
were important for the protection of their
property. Thesheep men and the water
power companies are the only ones to
show any disposition to oppose the exer-
else OF federal authority
Lots Of Eucalyptus.
you are planting a great deal of eu-
calyptus IN this state, / understand"
Yes, thousands of acres in every part
Of the state: probably 1900 acres OF eu-
calyptus trees will be standing at the end
OF this year. and within a quarter of a
century they will be one Of the most val
liable assets OF our people I Shall not
be surprised II the planting goes On at
the rate of 5000 acres a year-the more
the better. because no tree is more USE
full to mankind. and none grows more
rapidly. When the native red woods are
cut the StumpS sprout, and the plan OF
the Union Lumber Company and some
other large timber owners is to allow
them to grow and to interplant eucalyp-
tus trees between them. The latter grow
more rapidly, and serve as a sort OF
will furnish the shade the latter need to
extend their height, for a redwood or any
other tree growing in open sunlight pro-
duces side branches along their trunks,
which make knots and lessen the value
of the timebr. The redwood or any other
as rapidly as 1t can to the sunlight, and
the nourishment goes into the trunk In
stead of into branches.
1.-THE eucalyptus fever has extended so
far that companies are being organized
Tor the purpose Of planting forests. They