CHAPTER I. 21 



in California as forest reserves. Last year (1898) was the first time 

 that the Federal government has recognized its duty to manage and 

 care for these reserves. While the patrol appointed under the usual 

 rolitlcal methods was imperfectly organized and not effective, still it 

 was a step in the recognition of a plain duty. 



We have opened in Los Angeles this year (1899) the first forest 

 school in California; the first on the Pacific Slope, the first west of 

 the Alleghenies. It is an auspicious event and hopefully the pre- 

 cursor of a new era. It is high time for us to make a study of our 

 forests and of their importance and proper treatment. We are without 

 foresters in America. We need foresters. 



The forest conditions of California and the arid West are different 

 from those in any other country. They are entirely different from 

 those of the Adirondacks where the Cornell students are studying and 

 where they will be employed. They are different from those of Bilt- 

 more, N. C, where apprentices are taking up forest work. Our condi- 

 tions both of water-sheds and forests, of climate and government or- 

 ganization are to different from those of Europe that an educated for- 

 ester fitted for European work would have to learn much of his busi- 

 ness over again to be fitted for California work. There is then a need 

 of foresters educated to meet California and Western conditions. 

 There is from this fact the promise c: a career to young men in taking 

 up this work. The study of Forestry ought to find a place in every 

 State of the Union. 



Next year we hope to have the students of the Los Angeles school 

 recognized and made the basis of the local forest patrol. 



