130 LETTER TO COMMISSIONER. 



urgent. The forest growth if chaparral or brush. Only in the canyons 

 and high ridges is there any timber and this so scattered and inacces- 

 sible as to be out of any calculation for revenue product. There are a 

 few exceptions to this when timber in sufficient amount grows to be 

 available for commerce. These districts are in private hands. Chap- 

 arral Is the principal covering of the mountains. No other forest re- 

 serves have this predominant chaparral character. Where the fires 

 have gone the springs and streams have dried up. Existing torrent 

 cones and increasing flood damage warn and unite our people in a 

 aesire for forest protecclon, which is self-protection. 



2nd: The forestry movement here is not on the same footing as it 

 is elsewhere. Here the theoretic and aesthetic basis of forestry is sec- 

 ondary. Every irrigator, water company, resort, establishment, rail- 

 road company, power company, and in fact all citizens, are actively 

 favorable to forestry. Ther-^, is no sheep or grazing industry of any im- 

 portance here using tin forest lands for pasture. Only on the north 

 si'je of the mountains, and mainly in the Pine Mountain reserve, is 

 there sheep invasion from the San Joaquin. 



This community is for forestry for immediate and practical rea- 

 sons. Conservation of the water supply and prevention of torrents is 

 the life question In Southern California. What I said to you in the 

 Palace at San Francisco over a year ago was that the situation in 

 Southern California could only be realized by a personal visit from you 

 and inspection of the vast interests dependent on Irrigation and a view 

 of the chaparral covered n^ountains, of the great fire scars, of the dried 

 springs and torrent damage. No one can realize the situation without 

 seeing it. 



Your letter indicates that our printed plan of management, together 

 with several of my letters to you, must have miscarried. Please ad- 

 vise me if you receive this one. In case I do not hear from you, I will 

 forward a copy to a friend in Washington to be delivered to you person- 

 ally. 



Yours respectfully, 



ABBOT KINNEY. 



