Conservation of Natural Resources in California. 



65 



THE CITIES, TOO. 



The following appeared only a few days ago, an editorial in a San Fran- 

 cisco newspaper. The accompanying pictures show some of the common 

 articles that must double, treble, quadruple in price as wood grows 

 scarce. 



The Government's efforts to save the country's forests are impeded by 

 the fact that the city man, who holds the balance of political power, is 

 apt to think that the woods have nothing to do with him. This is a mis- 

 take,, of course, and is worth pointing out. 



It is true that spinach and spring chickens do not grow on forest 

 trees, and that such things come to the city market without much regard 



to political opinions. But the preservation of the country's great nat- 

 ural resources of wood and streams is a political issue. And at this 

 point our cockney ignorance and complacency need to be pierced by 

 sane rays of light from the rural world. 



In point of fact, the wood supply is next in importance to the food 

 supply. It is probably more indispensable than the supply of iron or 

 coal. 



