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Sierra Club Bulletin. 



very deeply regretted by many citizens who care little for per- 

 sonal politics of office-holders, but very much for their clean, 

 efficient work as representatives of our republican form of 

 government. 



As it is, the record of our elected boards will not compare 

 favorably with the management of their woodlands by the 

 representatives of any German community or city. America is 

 forced, according to Mr. Chapman's judgment, to turn away 

 from officers elected by the people, to a choice carefully restricted 

 by law to certain small classes characterized by integrity rather 

 than business or civic training. This complete reversal of the 

 conditions to be expected under a monarchy and under a republic 

 would be amusing did it not bring unpleasant reflections to the 

 republican. 



The most unfortunate omission in the California law was the 

 failure to include on its board any members who might be sup- 

 posed to have especial knowledge of public parks and a love for 

 trees. Perhaps we think of a forester as endowed with these 

 qualities. He may have them, but his training and profession 

 like that of an engineer do not require them. He is a forest 

 lawyer and lumberman's adviser, furnished by the schools, with 

 expert knowledge how to bring the greatest profit to the owner 

 of the forest. This means inevitable destruction of tree life, but 

 in such a manner that another crop will grow again after the 

 lapse of many years. The purpose of the California Redwood 

 Park, a considerable item in the management of the board, was 

 "to preserve the species known as Sequoia sempervirens," in the 

 words of the act of purchase, and the design of this and every 

 public park is to meet an aesthetic desire on the part of the 

 people and to furnish them with ground for play, rest and 

 recuperative purposes. Pecuniary profit out of any portion of 

 such a park is the last thing thought of. Public expenditure is 

 expected, and profit is returned to the people through pleasure in 

 the scene and improvement in health and contentment, — things 

 of as much practical importance to all the people of our cities as 

 the getting of money. To make such a park successful and satis- 

 factory there should be an influential element on the board of 

 management, with a sympathetic understanding of parks and 

 their purposes, and willing to devote considerable unremunerated 

 time to their improvement and protection. 



The Forest Service has planned to estab- 

 Planting Work on ^.^^ ^ coniferous nursery on the Shasta 

 National Forests in National Forest, the capacity of which 

 California. (designed to be 500,000 transplants per 



year. The stock produced here is to be used in experimental 



