The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 2, 1901, Page 3

THE SUNDAY CALL. ‘a, w \\ € T Ther—%. Tttenal Pask s In ger of being des:royed by fire. Owing ot dead the accumulaticn underwood Cecaved ard the exorssive growth of un- @erbrush the park is in an inflammable condition such contro that Many similar cases exist here in Cali- espectally in 1} Nev Sierra ns where Fresuent Firgs the Less the Damage. By J. I¥.Le Conte, Insiruc or in Mechanics at the Univer- sity of California and an Active Member of the Sierra Club. IRES in forests are like fires in cities, they t come some time. The longer they are put off the worse they will be. It is sald the Indians formerly burned over the Yosemite every year. Whether this could be done now without destroying the standing timber I do not know, but it #eems to me that the oftener a fire goes through a forest the less darage s done. If the fire is kept out year after year when it finally does come the destruction is great. This is the way with the Yose- mite Park; should a fire break out thers this summer. and it may come at any time, the destruction would be frightful. + . 7 Beligves na System cf RanGers. By C. J. Newhall, United Jtales Forest Superintend- ent of Norihern California, HE accumulation of dead trees and leaves in the Yosemite Park is, of course, a constant source of danger. The place is carefully patrolled by soldiers, but in general I do not be- lieve them as efficient fire-fighters as the experienced rangers employed in the Gov- ernment forest reserves, There are three kinds of fires and they must be dealt with in different ways. The fire among the pine needles is not seri- ous and can be stopped by back firing. When among the dead trees and brusn se fire is more dangerous and requires harder work to back fire and clear out the debris in order to stop the flames. If the blaze gets in amdng the tree tops and there is 2 good wind blowing, but little be done. We have found the system of rangers es used by the Governrient very success- ful. Last summer over the four or five millions of acres in the northern reserves there were 105 fires reported and put out. There was no serious blaze. can {47 covered with debris have been abandoned by sawmills Maany of these areas lie next to fine foresis and if a fire should happen'to start in this matter there would be very uttle hope for saving the surrounding forests, refuse A simple remedy for this would be to destroy the refuse matter as soon as a tree is cut down. By doing this the aban- doned areas would be left in a safe con- dition. Burning the forest over every few vears might call forth the argument thatsby o doing the leaf mold is destroyed. It is claimed that this leaf mold acts as a sponge and retains the motsture and helps feed the mountain streams. This may be true with the Eastern forests, where rains are frequent, but not so in California, where there is such a long dry spell. Many parts do not receive any rain for four or five months and during that time all the undergrowth and debris in the forest is in a parched condition. In what condition did the white man first find the Yosemite? Was his sight marred by the superabundarnce ot under- growth? The valley was eatrely frée from underbrush and every portion of it could be distinctly seen. The floor resem- bled a huge green carpet, dotted every- where with innumerable varieties of wild flowers. All the different species of trees presented a healthy and thriving appear- ance. No dead trees blemished the neat- ness of the scene. Bince this was hefore the white man, who were its protectors and how did they protect it to keep it in such an excellent condition? Nature’s own children—the In- dians—who had instilled into them through the laws of nature the true in- sticcts of forestry. Had it not been for the Indians the Yosemite and the Na- tional Park would not be the beautiful country it is to-day. The Indians grew up in the forest; the forest was their home; they were part of the forest and they loved it with all the devotion of their souls. They not only loved the forest but looked upon it for their support; each tree was valuable to them In some way. The oak furnished them the staff of life, the acorn bread; the pine supplied the pine- nut and sugar pine. The oily. nutritious substance found in the pinenut was as necessary to their systems as butter Is to us, and the saccharine quality found in the sugar jine was also a very important essential. The fir provided the balsam, an Invaluable panacea for all ills, and so it was with all the numerous species of trees—each one was priceless for what 1t furnished. in one way the Indians may be ccn ercd the farmers of the big trees. Th watched over the forest as our present farmer watches over his crops and or- chards. The white man admires the for- est for its beauty and game, but with the Indian it was his life. Now, as to the Indi ing. They did not ilow this accumula- tion of debris, but every few yefrs the chiefs called the various tribes together and held consultation and cleaned the for- ests out by fire, thus destroying all the uMerwood and making the large trees healthy and clean. In a few months grass and flowers would spring up where the debris was lying and the whole forest re- a- n method of farm- OF DEAV TRET) Y WHICH - TIRE WOVLD SPREAD sembled some beautiful park. . One of the olaest books relating to American forestry in the British Museum a statement in quaint old Engiish ing: “The Indians do. in the moist St. Martin’s summertime. when the leaves have fallen, set fire to the leaves, and so do not only prevent great fires in the dry season, but they do burn away the under- wood, so that you may ride to the hounds as in an English park.” This little state- ment gives the condition of the forest several hundred vears ago. when the In- dians were the foresters and the forests were as clean as English parks. It also applies directly to Yosemite and the Na- tional Park. They were found in this condition not many years ago, when the Indians held full sway in these regions. At a meeting held by the Yosemite Com- missioners several years ago in the val SR [ :‘}. M. Washburn. One of the Pion eers of Yosemite, Jirongly Advocates the Old Indian Cusiom of Preserving the Forest. NE of the ploneers of the Yosemite, who has spent most of his life in the Yosemite National Park, is A. H. Washburn, superintendent of the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Com- pany. Mr. Washburn is a strong advocate of the old Indian custom of preserving the forest. He says, relating to forestry: “The first time I went to the Yosemite, which was forty-one years ago, I partic- ularly noticed how few fallen trees there were and how clean and green the forest looked. Most of the pgople going through made remarks upon it§ fine condition, and some would go 8o far as to say that It was the finest forest they had ever seen. It would remind them of beautiful parks. In those days all kinds of trees flourished and all looked healthy. en the trees were taken care of by the native sons—the In- dians—who burned the forest over every three or four years, thus keeping down the undergrowth. They did not have any laws among their tribes that prevented any of them from making a fire as the ‘white man has. The Indians made the fires and now the white man fights to keep the fires out. “I firmly denounce this present method of forestry. They hold meetings, discuss various theories pertaining to forestry, make it punishable by a fine for any one to make a fire, look wise and claim that they are foresters. Those that keep the fires out should be fined instead of those that make the fire. It is impossible to keep fire out—it is bound to go through, even by lightning. In that case, who could be filned? If the forest is clean very little damage can be done, and the fire can soon be checked. “My idea is, instead of offering so much money as a reward for any one catching a person in the act of making a fire, s to take that money and hire men to go through the forest. The labor need not be so great to do this. Only a few men are necessary. i “I would have the forest divided into portions—about 2000 acres to the portion. Where there are dead trees fallen against lives ones the men could cut down the dead tree, roll the logs away at a safe distance and set fire to them, thereby preventing the live tree from injury. Thickets could be cut down and piles be made for burning. “The debris should be cleared away from the trees they wish to preserve. Aft- er this is all done I would have the men 80 around the edge of this area and re- move the debris about eighteen inches all around the edge and then set fire to it and let it burn in toward the center. After this is accomplished take another portion and do the same. In this way the under- growth can be regulated and the young - trees protect?d. In a few years a big dif- ference could be seen. “I believe if the forest is worth pre- serving at all it is worth being taken care of. [To help pay the expenses shingles could be made of old trees that are too good to burn and posts could be made from the cedar and these could be sold. The white man cares principally for the forests for the lumber and many fine trees are destroyed by men who cut a few shakes out of magnificent trees and leave them to die. “It 1s easy now to see how the forest has degenerated since the white man has acted as its protector, and to my knowl- edge there has mot been spent a single cent toward preserving the forest, They have published numerous articles setting forth their ideas regarding forestey and some I know to be very absurd. One, for instance, they believe in allowing this ac- cumulation of debris, claiming that it holds in moisture, but this I know to be impossiblée on account of the long dry spell. If the forest is taken care of in the proper manner the woods will become depse with fine trees and this will aid in holding the snow and give the desired water for irrigation. “I speak from experience and of the re- sults I have derived therefrom. The Mari- posa big tree grove has been under my supervision and I have adopted this same method with it and derived wonderful re- sults. There is no danger of fire originat- ing in the grove and it presents a healthy and clean appearance.” < ley an old Yosemite Indian, weather- beaten by many storms, dragged himself upon the veranda and looked in through thewindowat the meeting. “Umph! umph! What for?’ A bystander tried to explain to him that these men were taking care of his home. Another “Umph” was ut- tered and a far-away look came into his eves and a sad expression over his face. “White man\ don't know—no good—no same place—white man’s home, Indian no home—before Yosemite not this way,” and he hobbled off the porch muttering to himself of the days long ago when the white man was unknown in the valley and the Yosemite was the place he loved best on earth—“Indian burn um brush. ‘White man keep um brush. Big fire come, big trees go up fire, too.” Several prominent men have spoken of - the degeneration of the National Park. In 1898 J. W. Zevely, acting superintend- ent of the park that year, was very much discouraged by its condition. A fire broke out in August near the boundary line that separates the National Park from the Yo- semite. For days they were fighting fire, and Mr. Zevely employed every man that came along. Travel was checked for sev- eral days, as the fire crossed the stage line. This porticn of the park is totally destroyed. Mr. Zevely was speaking of having his foresters go through the park, clean up the underwood and burn up-the dead trees, but he did not receive the ap- poiritment the next year, so it was neg- lected and the park still continues in this inflammable condition. Qoione! Ruckser Spezks of the DarGir. IEUTENANT COLONEL L H. the Sixth Cavalry, g Superintendent of National Park last 7o had charge of the year and v caval troops established as a patrol, epcaks of the ger that threatens the , park from the accumulation of under- growth and dead trees. Colonel Rucker vested in the future of the nd feels that its proper s much to the State of h inte « undoubtedly from fire in the Yosemite said Colonel Rucker. ¥ last year in that only fires that broke great danger National Park.” were very ve discovered the tefore they had It is only a re some fire will atrol does not will be great is danger increases deeper into the e doing every ing inclination upon some campers to get danger from n cof time where a ergrowth ar timber. here is much that is necessary to be done in the National Park, Ing of the floor is one thi applies to the National Park applies the State Park in the valley proper, though the Federal authorities have no control over this section. There have been vast accumulations of fallen tr on the Glacler Point road one at storm last blew down fifty in one Those trees would furni great deal off. fuel should a fire start 1 wousl away live trees if it should got well Way. “It would seem to me that it wo money well spent if both the Fed State authorities should enough to burn over ous sections of the pa “Under the present rule e started in the park, and unu: not be cut or burned. F build fires and the patrols ed over the large area to prev The rule against cutting u alowed a healthy growt that would act as kindling woud for the larger trees in the event of a five. It would be manifest!y improper to allow Id be I and rbr promiscucus fire building in the Par but it would be the “est thimg to ha some of it burned cver arel cleared wu competent supervisiam g TREEY WHITR WOULD CARRY | FIRE o~ » Burn the Forest From Time tc Time. Ey C i J;ir—m. Inspector of Agricultural Sxper.ment Jtations of Jtate University HE Yosemite should be surveyed from a botanical standpoint. Cer- tain trees that are ripe should be marked for cutting. Roads should be made through the forests to pro- tect one part from another in case of fire. Parts of the underbrush could be slashed and successfully burned without damag- - ing the standing trces. The accumulation of dead wood in the Yosemite could be burned off if taken at the proper season and in small patches. As it is now it 1s ever a constant source of danger to the forests, and. if the forests were destroyed half the béauty of the Yosemite would be gone. In forests where there have been no recent fires a l:af toam several feet deep is found. This is extremely danger- ous, and if fired wiil destroy the standing trees. Where parks are carefully watched and guarded this dead stuff should not be allowed to gather, Lut should be burned from time to time.