Imperial Valley press., 1921-07-19
(By WINFIELD BARKLEY.)
.ouf h o,.,, TV,,c$ 4, Cor,uo~ D1

oOutneIn trust q commerce Bank.
The history of any country begins
with it's discovery, often by free
booter in search of easy money. Then
comes the consecrated missionary and
the hardy prospector, both burning
with a zeal which obstacles and even
old age will not quench. The stock
man follows, jealously guarding i'm
mense ranges from the homesteade-
and the agriculturist to whom he evsn-
tually succumbs.
In this section of the southland.
along the borders of we'll established
agricultural areas, you will find all
other class Of men reaching on. irto
the mountain fastnesses over crudly
constructed roads, placing the stands
of a multitude of bees, so that they
may range over the wild buckwheat,
sage and sumac and gather nsnev
from the most ideal range existent.
San Diego county produced 41 car
loads, a total of 1,476,000 pounds of
honey during 1920.
We made trip Into the mountains
a week ago, over a number of these
roads and trails constructed by .hee.
Keepers and found them ideal for
reaching the headwaters, of our IA
ver1te traut streams. We had some
excellent-but this is not a fishing
story land the result of our trip must
wait until another time.
Towering above US and ever pres
ent, although we travelled a number
of miles in all directions, was Cuya-
maca peak, surmounted by the look
out station of the U. S. Forest service.
Wherever we went, in the four days
trip, we were conscious of the watch
full care of a beneficent forest service,
protecting the feed of the bees, the
stock rangs, water for the agricul-
turist, the drinking supply, of the far
OFT city and keeping alive the turbu-
lent brook in which we were fishing.
A service which knows no day, no
night, no Sundays nor. holidays, but
is ever on the alert to protect the
forests Of our mountain empire, that
not alone you and may enjoy them,
but that they may be handed down to
posterity. a
The Cleveland national forest com =
prlses 813,676 acres in San Diego,
Riverside and Orange counties, and
it is over this vast territory that a
force OF government employees are
protecting the water supply of the
cities Of San Diego, Escondido, Hem
ct, San Jacinto, and intermediate
towns-protecting water from fire
and saving "a vast empire to posterity.
Old as l am, cannot go past city
fire station without thrill To see
the doors open, the engines all in
readiness and the firemen lounging
about, awaiting the clang Of the gong,
makes my blood tingle. Well, all this
is tame compared to seeing the forest
service in action.
The city fireman rolls few short
blocks, while the ranger may have
to travel a hundred miles. Instead of
powerful engines the forest man has
crude shovel and a hand ak. He has
to pack his food and water with him
and be prepared to stay days and
nights on the job. If you think he
has an easy life, listen to few ex-
tracts from his book Of instructions:
"The first duty of every member Of
the force, permanent or temporary, is
fire protection.
"The fire plan recognized no Sun
days or holidays. When a fire is re-
ported immediate actionSis demanded.
Usually night riding means fire ex-,
tinguished while it is yet small Above
all things do not leave a fire Safe
leave it out 49,.
s Cali forest officers while riding will
carry small ak in sheath, shovel or
entrenching tool, "canteen, heliograph,
fire map and instructions contained in
this plan and an emergency ration.
Failure Of any, officer to carry this
equipment in the fire season (June I
to Nov. y willzbe considered grounds
for suspension or dismissal.
/; "Fire chiefs must have their horses
or automobiles, or both, in instant
readiness to leave for a fire. Five
preparation is the maximum
allowed unless telephoning is neces-
sary, and in that event. Is minutes.
District rangers must explain in writ