FIFTH NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESt; 387 



State Forester's office, most ably seconded by the press of California, anti-fire 

 sentiment crystallized and grew into a strong, intelligent, popular approval of 

 the work these two agencies were trying to accomplish. 



The intensity and unanimity of this public sentiment grew consistently and 

 steadily from 1886 till the summer of 1910. 



Then arose an insidious doctrine called "Light Burning.'' It was first ad- 

 vocated by one of the largest individual forest land owners in California. The 

 method as advocated by him contemplated filling up burns in the butts of mature 

 trees with rocks and dirt, and then after the first rains in the fall firing the 

 land with the intention of burning up all inflammable debris on the ground. 

 The method as practiced cost 50 cents per acre, and in the opinion of experts 

 did not result in security against fire loss in subsequent dry seasons. This was 

 eagerly taken up by a few other men — also large owners of California timber 

 land. Backed by these men, an article by G. L. Hoxie appeared in the Sunset 

 Magazine for August, 1910. Mr. Hoxie's article advocated a still further ex- 

 tension of the method of "light burning," and with much sarcastic comment 

 denounced the method of patrol and immediate suppression practised by the 

 U. S. Forest Service. The general impression left in the minds of readers not 

 thoroughly acquainted with the business of fire protection was, "Fire in the 

 woods is a good thing. Let 'em burn!" This article started a widespread con- 

 troversy in which the "light burners" were ably supported by the San Francisco 

 Chronicle. 



Whatever the purpose of the men who started this attack on the only 

 methods of protection for present and future forest crops that have been em- 

 ployed successfully by foresters in all civilized countries since the profession 

 came into existence, the results of the attack were to cloud the issue, to divide 

 the once solidified public opinion, and to increase carelessness with fire in the 

 woods. The Forest Service records show that fires caused by strictly human 

 agencies increased from 443 in 1910 to 515 in 1911 and 606 in 1913. 



Owing largely to the publicity work of the Forest Service, the fallacy of 

 the "light burning" theory was slowly but generally seen by the public, and at 

 present California again presents not only a strong sentiment against the forest 

 fire evil but for the Forest Service method of attacking it, which results have 

 demonstrated to be the best. 



Prior to 1885, public sentiment was strong enough to force some action by 

 the State .Legislature. On March 3, 1885, there was approved an Act "to create 

 a State Board of Forestry." The organization consisted of three board members 

 appointed by the Governor, a forester, and a botanist; and $2,500 a year was 

 appropriated for its support. It did good work within the field of its limited 

 authority. 



On March 7-, 1887, an Act was approved endowing the members of the 

 Board of Forestry and its employees with the powers of peace officers with 

 authority to make arrests for the violation of any law applying to forest or brush 

 lands within the State. Under this law the Board employed agents in the field 

 whose chief duty was to post fire warning notices. No successful prosecutions 



