38 FOREST DESTRUCTION. 



species, there is a far greater struggle between different species; tliere 

 fore, the best results can be attained by planting the species apart ,and 

 before this struggle becomes pronounced, they must be assisted with 

 good judgment so as not to retard growth by over-crowding, but the 

 value of keeping the entire surface covered is apparent, to protect from 

 the winds, and to prevent the growth of inflammable brush. The im- 

 portance of quickly covering the area made naked by the fire must be 

 apparent, for the winds and floods will In a decade or two have re- 

 moved the little soil that escaped destruction, leaving naught but bare 

 rock. 



It would be folly to plant any species not indigenous to the locality, 

 or to similar conditions as to character of soil, altitude, climate etc. 



NO REASON FOR DESTROYING THE FORESTS 



There is no interest here in Southern California asking for or 

 seeking the destruction of our forests. The policy suggested by some 

 Northern persons of constant consecutive fire setting in the mountains 

 on the claim that an annual forest fire does little or no damage and 

 that fire cannot be kept out of public forests entirely and that there- 

 fore where the fire Is not annual it must be more destructive has no 

 bearing on Southern California. Our forests are largely chaparral. 

 Fire destroys this brush if repeated twice after short intervals. The 

 chaparral once destroyed we have bare and arid hills and mountains. 

 Artificial planting or impossible periods of years for renewed soil and 

 renewed growth are our only hope after successive fires kill the brush 

 roots. Whatever interest this fire setting theory may develop for oth- 

 er sections it can have none for us. Southern California has no capital 

 or body of people asking for the destruction of the forests or excusing 

 any of the practices that are deemed injurious to them. On the other 

 hand we have for the primary .friends of forestry every resort owner 

 in or near the mountains, such as the Alpine Tavern, Mt. Wilson, San 

 Antonio Canyon, Squirrel Inn, Seven Oaks, Bear Valley, Fredalba, 

 Strawberry Valley, etc.; we have every irrigating and domestic water 

 company and every power company representing millions of money 

 and the prosperity of 300,000 people. As secondary friends every city, 

 colony and fruit orchard, every valley land owner, merchant and every 

 city and transportation company is vitally interested in the preserva- 

 tion of our mountain water sheds. This means the preservation of the 

 productive power of the country and consequently of its power to sup- 

 port all the interests in it. 



