Sierra Club Bulletin. 



_ , So far as it has gone, California has pursued 



California s • • j . r ^ 



PoLic ^ wiser course in regard to forestry matters than 



any other State. It has supported the United 



A. PPRO VKT) 



States in every movement to preserve the Nation's 

 Sierra forest, and its appropriation of money at the last legis- 

 lature to aid the Government forester in investigating the forests 

 of California and devising, on the basis of such scientific knowl- 

 edge, a plan of treatment and a plant of fire-control that shall 

 be the best that science can give us, is everywhere spoken of as 

 the most enlightened policy yet adopted by a State. The special 

 committee of the New York legislature appointed to consider 

 the best method of repairing the disasters of 1903, advises a 

 forestry policy and co-operation with the Bureau of Forestry, 

 after the plan adopted by California. Forestry and Irrigation 

 says: "The creation of the Adirondack and Catskill mountain 

 preserves was a long step in advance, but it must be followed by 

 more progress if the work is to be kept abreast of that now 

 inaugurated by California." 



Although a larger number than usual of bills 

 Congressional ^^j^cting California lands and forests were 



before Congress, none of importance came up 

 for final action. The old game of " Do nothing the year before 

 a Presidential election " was played. The transfer of the forest 

 reserves to the Bureau of Forestry, the purchase of the Cala- 

 veras Groves, the repeal of the Timber and Stone Act, of the 

 Commutation Clause of the Homestead Law, the modification 

 of the Desert Land Law, the protection of the reservations, 

 were all brought before Congress for action, but Congressional 

 leaders bandied them about in committees until it was "time 

 to go home." Every one failed, although it is certain that some 

 of the most important would have passed if they could have 

 been brought to a vote. The Calaveras Grove bill suffered from 

 too many putative relations. The advocates of the great Appa- 

 lachian Park and the White Mountain Forest Reserve were 

 lying in wait until the energy of the California Club should 

 carry through the Calaveras Grove bill. In that event every 

 effort would have been used to make the latter a precedent. 

 Members of Congress were very well aware of this. The Cala- 

 veras Grove question is not in the same class of the others, 

 as a matter of fact. Even if the forests of the Appalachians 

 were all swept away, one century or two would with care restore 

 their pristine greatness and beauty. Not so with the Calaveras 

 Big Trees. The growth of two thousand years would and could 

 never be replaced. 



President Roosevelt, in both general and special messages to 



