332 



Sierra Club Bulletin 



locations which offer the best opportunities for establishing the industry in 

 this region. 



WITH THE SIERRA LUMBERMEN 



Fire Protection. — The pine lumbermen of California are co-operating splen- 

 didly with the Forest Service in fire protection. (There are no national forests 

 in the redwood region.) With few exceptions they turned over all their hold- 

 ings to the Forest Service for fire protection during the 192 1 season, paying 

 the Government an average flat rate of one and one-half cents an acre for the 

 service. Almost four million acres of private timberlands were given protection 

 by this co-operation. 



The California White and Sugar Pine Manufacturers Association has en- 

 dorsed in principle the law proposed by the California State Automobile Asso- 

 ciation providing for compulsory fire patrol on privately owned forest lands; 

 but in view of the fact that, with few exceptions, every large owner of pine 

 timberland in California is now co-operating with the United States Forest 

 Service in fire protection, a reasonable time was requested to secure the co- 

 operation now lacking. At the expiration of that time it was the recommenda- 

 tion of the Association that the California Forestry Committee be instructed to 

 draw up an act to meet the situation. 



Support of Legislation. — The Pine Association has actively and effectively 

 supported the State Board of Forestry in several important directions. It has 

 also vigorously indorsed the McNary-Sinnott Bill covering a federal appropria- 

 tion for the purpose of fighting the insects threatening western yellow pine in 

 southern Oregon and California. The bill is now under consideration in Con- 

 gress and every effort is being made to secure its passage. The association has 

 made arrangements to assemble the pine-timber owners this winter to discuss 

 ways and means of preventing the entrance of white-pine blister-rust into the 

 sugar-pine forests of California. 



Lumber Grades. — The official lumber-grading rules of the Pine Association 

 have been revised in the interest of clarity, in order that consumers of Califor- 

 nia pine products may know definitely what character of material they may ex- 

 pect under the various grade designations. It is difficult to put on paper an 

 exact description of a lumber grade, since no two boards are alike; but an at- 

 tempt has been made to include within grade limits all material suitable for 

 specific uses. 



Deer Season. — During the legislative session of 1921 the Pine Association 

 actively co-operated in an endeavor to postpone the opening of the deer season 

 for the purpose of reducing fire hazard. This attempt was successful ; but it is 

 believed that in some sections of California a further postponement is advis- 

 able, and such a request will probably be made at the next session. The owners 

 of timberland in the pine region feel justified in posting their lands and pre- 

 venting hunters from using them so long as they constitute a menace. 



Yield-Tax. — The Pine Association considered and adopted the position 

 taken by the California Forestry Committee with reference to the proposed 

 State Constitutional Amendment No. 14. The amendment proposes to give the 

 legislature authority to provide by general and uniform laws for the taxation 

 of land, on which there is standing young timber or mature timber, separately 



