88 TRANSACTIONS OF STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



citizens organized the California Water and Forest Association, in 

 which I hold the onerous and not very lucrative position of president. 

 Its charter members numbered seventy-two; on January 1, 1901, it had 

 on its rolls five thousand seven hundred members. Last fall it secured 

 from the proper officers of the Federal Government a pledge to expend 

 one hundred thousand dollars of Federal money during the next two 

 years in investigating the water resources of the State, the possible 

 reservoir sites, and their cost, and the best methods of preserving our 

 forests, provided the State would appropriate an equal amount. The 

 Association considered this offer of partnership an admirable one. A 

 similar partnership had existed during the year between the Federal 

 Government and the Association, the latter supplying one half of the 

 money expended, through tlfe liberality of public-spirited citizens, and 

 the work done has been of incalculable value to the State. Senate Bill 

 No. 7 was therefore introduced at the request of the Association, appro- 

 priating one hundred thousand dollars to be expended under the direc- 

 tion of three unsalaried Water and Forest Commissioners, but only in 

 collaboration with the Federal Government, each to put up dollar for 

 dollar. Twenty-three Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, and 

 like organizations, from Chico to San Diego, memorialized the Legis- 

 lature to pass the bill. One Assemblyman and one Senator voted 

 against it, but the bill was vetoed by Governor Gage. The veto was a 

 severe blow to the progress of the Association. With this money we 

 had hoped to make a thorough investigation of what was needed, and 

 to report to the next Legislature a definite plan for the preservation of 

 our forests and flood waters. There is now nothing to do but study 

 methods, and wait. We cannot rely upon private subscriptions. The 

 State must assume its share of the burden, but to get it to assume this 

 share we must all work together. Every public-spirited citizen should 

 join the Association, so that we may knock at the door of the next 

 Legislature with twenty-five thousand members behind the summons, 

 rather than five thousand. The membership fee and annual dues of 

 one dollar bring membership within the reach of all. 



