Jan. 11, 1915.
Mr. A. G. Briggs, Secretary,
Automobile Club of Northern California.
San Francisco, Cal.
Dear Mr. Briggs:
Since my return from Sacramento, I have been overwhelmed with correspondence relating to our trip. I hardly know how to write for publication, but will tell you about the meeting, and you can publish what you see fit of this letter. But one thing—please omit my name and give as from the Conservation of Forestry Committee of Placerville Shakespeare Club. I enclose a short account of the meeting clipped from the Club Women's notes of Sunday's Chronicle. Upon the urgent request of Mrs. A. F. Jones, President N. Dist. C. F. W. C., a committee of four went from the Placerville Shakespeare Club to attend the executive board meeting in Sacramento on January 2d, to ask its endorsement of several bills relative to the preservation of timber along State highways, and particularly of the Lake Tahoe wagon road—a question upon which the club has been working since spring. We had drafted three bills which cover the matter, copies of which had been previously mailed to our representatives in the Legislature. Senator E. S. Birdsall and Assemblyman Robert I. Kerr.
This committee stated the question to the executive board and asked for their endorsement of the measures which was readily given.
State Forester Homans and his deputy attended the meeting, as did also Senator Birdsall and Assemblyman Kerr, and the drafts of the bill were left with these legislators to be put in exact form.
Our committee then had a conference with Mr. Nylen, president of the board of control. Mr. Nylen told us of the scarcity of funds, which we already knew. But upon our stating that we were asking for an appropriation to cover the cost of purchase of only such trees on the Lake Tahoe road as would be felled before another legislature met, he was favorably impressed, and requested that copies of these bills and a map of the road, which we had with us, be left with him.
On January 7th, Senate Bills Nos. 42, 43 and 44 were introduced, dealing re-respectively with the purchase by the Engineering 'Department of additional strips of land and trees along State highways; amending the Code of Civil Procedure relative to exercising eminent domain for acquiring additional strips along State highways; and making an appropriation for land and trees along the course of the Lake Tahoe wagon road.
Mr. Kerr introduced in the Assembly on January 8, Bills Nos. 12, 31 and 66, which take the matter in the same order as the Senate Bills. Assembly Bills No. 12 and 66 have been referred to Committee on Roads and Highways, No. 31 to the Committee on Judiciary.
We greatly appreciate receiving your letter at Sacramento assuring your willingness to co-operate through the legislature. We have yet to hear of opposition, but everyone speaks of the need of just this thing being done. But of course we must expect opposition and must not feel too sure of success. What we need badly is someone on the ground to watch just what moves are being made in the Legislature in regard to these particular Bills. Have you any one who can do this? We know Auto Clubs are asking certain things of this Session and perhaps your association could keep our Bills in sight also. We are fearful of their being lost in Committee, etc.
I am enclosing a copy of a letter which this club is sending to any person or organization which we think might help. Will you keep us in mind, watch for anything pertaining to these Bills and work for their successful passage through the Legislature?
Very truly yours
(Mrs. P. S.) Stella Tracy, Sec.
This movement to save the Placerville-Lake Tahoe Highway will receive an additional impetus at the annual convention of the Northern district of the California Federation of Women's Clubs which will be held at Sacramento on March 23d, 24th and 25th. The local board at Sacramento is engaged at the present time in making elaborate plans for much work and some play during the days the district is convening. The members of the Chamber of Commerce of Sacramento have promised to cooperate with the local board in extending to the visitors the hospitality of the town.
A matter of great interest to the members of the Northern district is that of saving the trees on the Lincoln Highway along the Placerville-Tahoe wagon road. The civic section of the Placerville Shakespeare Club recently sent a delegation to confer with the executive board of the Northern district, and to be present at a session of the State Forestry Commission, to the end that such scenic beauty might be preserved. It has been announced that State Forester George M. Homans has pledged his support to bills which will be advocated by the women's clubs of California at the Legislature to prevent the destruction of the trees along the highways of the State. Senator Birdsall will introduce the bill, which has been prepared at the instance of the Placerville woman.
Some Name
A young mother living in the Highlands, rather inclined to be romantic in her temperament, was troubled because she could not find a name that suited her fancy for her first-born, a boy. One of her friends called at her home one day with a touring car, and took her out for a ride. They were spinning along one of the country pikes in Jefferson County, when they passed a big barn. One of the doors was open, and a curious name was painted on it.
"Ah," said the fond mother to herself, "there's a name for my boy; at least a part of it. 'Nosmo,'" she read, and repeated a number of times so she would not forget it. "I never heard the name before," she confided to herself. "They'll all wonder where I got it, I'm sure. Isn't it romantic to find a name that way?" she mused.
The big car continued its way over the country pikes, until finally the afternoon had almost passed away. The young mother was elated that she had found a name for her infant son.
On the way back, when they passed the same barn, she turned to see the name once more, but the door had been closed. However, the door by its side had been opened, and there was another name on that one.
"Oh, there is the middle name for baby!" she almost spoke aloud, she was so elated. Some one had painted "King" on the door. "Nosmo King," she said to herself; "and won't daddy be delighted that we have a name for baby?"
So when daddy came home, the name was announced to him. Daddy was elated. So were grandma and grandpa. The whole family were tickled with the name.
Three weeks later the mother took her baby out for a ride in the same car. They passed by the same barn. Both doors were open, and when the mother saw the name she collapsed. She had named her boy "No Smoking." Now she calls him plain "Tom."—Louisville Times.
⸻The wheelbase of the average car listed at over $3,000 has increased steadily for 5 years. In this period there has only been one increase, five inches, between 1911 and 1912, and since then it has steadily climbed up one inch per year. The five-inch jump was due to the sixcylinder movement which in that year grew from practically zero to 44 per cent
