378 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



August 



within the reserves are in the hands of 

 individuals or corporations. Most of 

 these private owners are not as yet 

 inclined to apply even the fundamental 

 principles of forestry, but cut their 

 timber by the destructive methods 

 which under present economic condi- 

 tions give the highest returns regard- 

 less of the condition in which the cut- 

 over land is left, or of the effect on 

 future growth or water conservation. 

 The results are bound to have a most 

 potent influence on the agricultural 



contribution for cooperative work with 

 the Federal government during the 

 past tw T o years. They have, too, on 

 their statute books a recently enacted 

 forest code, which provides for the 

 management and protection of the for- 

 ests within the state. 



The successful application of this 

 forest law depends largely on the at- 

 titude lumbermen take toward it. 

 \Yithout forests of its own and with 

 such large areas in the hands of the 

 Federal government, obviously the 



Private land within the San Bernardino Forest Reserve, lumbered and burned in 1903 



development of the state, through the 

 increased difficulty of regulating 

 floods and of securing the water need- 

 ed for irrigation and power. 



California is with good reason con- 

 sideml one of the most advanced 

 states in fons' ry matters. The people 

 are progressive, appreciative of their 

 forest n-Miurces and have not ne- 

 glected opportunities to procure ad- 

 vice and assistance which should in- 

 sure' the highest use of the water and 

 wood. This is shown by their liberal 



only remaining field of action to th? 

 state is on the forest lands of the pri- 

 vate owner. It is possible to render 

 him cooperative assistance of the ut- 

 most value, and if it is accepted highly 

 beneficial results will accrue to the 

 State at large. On the other hand, if 

 this assistance is not welcomed, and if 

 the disposition shown by the Legis- 

 lature at its last session, to oppose 

 legislation helpful to the forest owner, 

 grows, the private timberland owner 

 may be the cause of changing the 





