FIFTH NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESS 289 



of the Act of March 18, 1905. So far as results, in decrease of area burned 

 annually, are concerned, these efforts have met with consistent failure. 



By constant hammering, by attending meetings of the county boards of 

 supervisors and by urging upon them the necessity of fire protection, the State 

 Forester's office had by the fall of 1908 induced 13 counties to employ a total 

 of 138 paid wardens. By 1910 the number of counties spending money for this 

 purpose had decreased to seven. In 1911 ten counties were employing 11 men. 

 During the calendar year 1913 twenty-two counties spent $10,975 for extinguish- 

 ing fires. The number of paid patrolmen employed is not stated in the State 

 Forester's report. 



Meanwhile a new administration had come into power in California. In 

 accordance with its campaign promises, the legislative program included the 

 creation of a Conservation Commission to gather data concerning forestry, irri- 

 gation, water-power, minerals, and lands, for the purpose of revising the laws 

 on these subjects. The Act creating the Commission was approved April 8, 1911. 



In the course of its work on the fire problem the Commission consulted freely 

 with the U. S. Forest Service, and freely used its advice. In its report submitted 

 to the Governor, January 1, 1913, it said: 



"The Commission's proposed fire bill, if enacted into law, will, the Com- 

 mission believes, greatly aid in the prevention and suppression of forest fires. 

 The State should have a well organized fire patrol under the guidance of a 

 practical fire-warden, which is the most effective known manner of prevent- 

 ing and suppressing fires. . . . 



"States suffering from the results of large and disastrous fires, costing 

 millions of dollars and, in some cases, many lives, are realizing that the pre- 

 vention of fires is more effective and economical than fighting fires after they 

 are started." 



With this report the Commission submitted a bill which had the endorse- 

 ment of a lumbermen's Forest Protective Association representing perhaps 80% 

 of the privately owned stumpage in the State; of Mr. Gifford Pinchot; of For- 

 ester Henry S. Graves, Chief of the U. S. Forest Service; and of various con- 

 servation associations in California. 



This bill passed and went to Governor Johnson in May, 1913, but the statu- 

 tory period was allowed to elapse without his signing it — receiving thereby what 

 is known as the "pocket veto." No explanation has been given the California 

 public for the failure of this bill. 



In December, 1911, an invitation was issued by the District Forester of the 

 U. S. Forest Service to practically all of the lumbermen in California to meet 

 with the National Forest Supervisors in San Francisco. Over 70 attended, and 

 the question of organization was fully discussed. As a result, both of this meet- 

 ing and of the public hearings on the proposed fire bill held by the Conservation 

 Commission, the California Forest Protective Association was formed and in- 

 corporated March 28, 1912. In July, 1913, its membership included 117 indi- 

 viduals and firms, representing 1,822,193 acres of timber land. 



As stated in its articles of incorporation, the purpose of the Association is 

 "the protection of the forest of California, and providing facilities for co- 



