C)24 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



thorough account in detail of conditions and occurrences, but avoids 

 any attempt at speculation as to causes and remedies. 



While not directly stated, the inference is that the unusual concen- 

 trated rainfall alone accounts for the floods, which it undoubtedly does, 

 and the inference also is hinted at that engineering works, especially 

 reservoirs, will by themselves cure the soil. But the fact that several 

 dams gave way ; that thousands of acres were silted over, while forest 

 conditions at the headquarters are described almost everywhere as poor, 

 suggests that the Chinese engineers' broader outlook is justified, and 

 that here, too, a better forest cover, which can be secured more cheaply 

 than engineering works, might be useful. Unfortunately in California 

 we have to deal, not as in China, with a timber-forest country, but a 

 semi-arid locality, and the forest planting will perhaps have largely to 

 be done with shrubs, or at least without regard to economic value of 

 the timber. 



Municipal Wood Yards 



The acute fuel shortage of last winter has borne fruit in several ways 

 in an increased production and use of wood fuel. One of the most 

 significant results is the passage of an act by the legislature of Missis- 

 sippi authorizing municipalities to establish and operate municipal wood 

 and coal yards. The essential features of the law will be of special 

 interest in view of the country-wide efl^ort being made at this season to 

 provide against a shortage next winter, which is practically inevitable, 

 according to the Federal Fuel Administration. By this law : 



(a) The authorities of every municipality are authorized to establish 

 and operate wood and coal yards during the period until one year after 

 the close of the present war, for the purpose of supplying the inhab- 

 itants with fuel. 



(b) A municipality which establishes and operates a wood yard, 

 coal yard, or either, shall have full power to create, fill, discontinue, or 

 abolish all such offices or employments in connection therewith as may 

 be deemed necessary or proper ; to fix and pay salaries ; to cut, pur- 

 chase, transport, sell, and deliver wood or coal necessary for providing 

 the inhabitants with fuel ; from time to time fix the selling prices and 

 the terms of sale, and to make and enforce such rules and regulations 

 as may be necessary for the carrying out of the act. 



(c) The necessary funds are to be set aside out of the general mu- 

 nicipal fund or borrowed at interest on the credit of the municipality. 



(d) In order to borrow money for this purpose, the municipality is 



