New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-20
FOREST FIRES.

Fire. during tho last few days, has been demon
gtrating that though good servant 1t Ii hard
master In Pennsylvania 1t has not only swept
AWAY rreat tracts Of forest trees but has cOmpl-
coted tho catastrophe by Its destructive course
through the oil regions. In New-Jersey tho con-
Aapraton Of standing timber has been terrible. We
read of Pine, oak, and cedar woods and cedar
swamps ruined to tho extent Of thousands upon
tbousonds of acres In our own State, these fires
have been almost equally destructive. In these To-
calities not only the woods have been swept away,
Inf many places Of industry and business. If fires
ANYTHING like these had occurred IN important
cities we should have heard much moro detailed
accounts OF their damage, and appeal would have
bcru made to us in behalf Of tho sufferers. Yet tho
destruction has been great, and must have been
severely felt by those whose property has boon con-
sumcd In Atlantic County, n. j., for instance,
10000 out of the $4,000 acres contained In the
county have been swept over. Here, too tho cram
berry boys have been ruined. Everywhere else the
ruin has been proportiOnatc.
OF course. in the districts thus devastated, the
excitement has been great Men who have been
nearly bcggarcd suspect design, and will not hear
with cduanimity of accident The tramp who
mrst ol,yays bear the brunt of suspicion, is sup
posed. in more than place, to have kindled tho
cou0agration. and there is wild talk of lynching
SN~AA~N
- resort upon the part of Infatuated men to such
summary proceedings. 1t Is just possible that
noor yarabonds, who have no legitimate fre-placCs
in which to cook their meals, may have been ncc-
dcntally tho cause Of much of the mischief; but 1t
is more probable that good deal of 1t has come OF
the careessness of persons otherwise entirely lnnO'
cent. The drouth has left everything in most in
Aanmabe condition and Onco tho fire gets hold
mon great AREA of woodland Of course 1T Is not
easily managed nor by ordinary methods to be sup
pressed 1t goes OH, ever freshly reklndlmg, every
where finding food for its inordinate appetite ana
mercilcssly advancing upon its career with
mastery which scorns the feeble opposition OF ter
riiied men.
The losses which such connagations occasion can
hardly be duly estimated by those to whom
financial ruin must come in tho form of figures
aud In the shape Of deprecated stocks or merchan
diso manic in Wall Street we can appreciate.
fra which rushcs through n pOpulous town, which
no,sumcs warehouses full of costly goods,
which leaves n considerable portion Of great popu-
lotion housclosss and homeless, wo can c0mprc-
bend: but not so easily fire which works its will
,,ror q tract of woodland, however extensive may
Inc IT'S ravages. The great merchant reduced at
Iaost to difficulties and embaTrassments by such u
conaopration experiences n loss which we can
cosily understand. But farmer whose woodland
has been consumed has an equal claim upon our
sympathcs lilo may have relied upon It's annual
growth to meet the mortgage which is spread over
his arabic land If even this is made for years
nrnroductlve by being subjected to fire, his Difficult
ties may DO greater. The fires which cripple those
whose means are not magnificent, and who have no
insurance company to fall back upon, arc not less
rninous than those which run from one side of a
city to another and leave great blanks In their
solidated quarters.