, 1889-08-03
JNo. =. CARROLL Editor.
FOREST FIRES IN THE VEST:

est fires are adding to the long list of
casualties for which the year 1889 is de-
stined to be memorable. In Montana,
Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Western
Kansas, Nebraska and California they
are raging with n f-erceness never known
before and have already destroyed mill
lions OF dollars worth of valuable timber,
says the Chicago Tribune. Montana APP
pears to be a veritable sea of fire. In
every direction among the mountains
and along the banks Of the Missouri FIRE
is spreading through the heavily timbered
country and it is impossible to estimate
the amount Of timber, cord wood and food
supplies destroyed. The city of Helena
is enveloped in a cloud Of smoke so dense
that lamps have to be lit IN the DAYTIME
to see to conduct business. Mining camps
and ranches are deserted for the fire is
beyond all control. Steamboat and rail-
road traffic is suspended in the CGur
d'Alene district. The Helena Gazette
says: Fresh timber fires occur daily.
The forests are being devastated, and no
human effort can AVAIL to check the
spread of the fire. IT tho conhagrations
continue torrents Of rain for n long period
will be necessary to quench the fires, and
there ase no indications that such a re-
suit will occur. Colorado has not yet
suffered to the extent of Montana, but the
mountains around Gunnison, Marshall
pass, Shawnee, Leadville, Aspen, Glen
wood, and Newcastle are all on FIRE, and
the c~onfiagration is spreading so fast that
Denver is almost obscured by the smoke.
In Idaho thc'forest fires are destroying
the finest Of its timber belts and spreading
SO rapidly that the governor has tele-
graphed TO the secretary of the interior
for help to exIinguish them. But what
assistance can be scnt2 In California the
destruction has already been terrible.
Near Chico and Santa Barbara the fires
have burned over a District many miles in
extent, and houses, barns. and stock
have been destroyed, in addition to vast
quantities of valuable timber. The Alta
California says:
1T is a heartless and criminal destruc
ton. Within u fortnight a splendid for.
est lying near the junction of the MADEIRA
and Raymond roads, on the way to Wa.
wona, within which the Mariposa big
trees are. has been burned. It is on the
Yosemite road, and has compelled the ad-
miration of travellers from all over the
world. The big sequoias were saved,
though the fire was resistless until it was
within forty feet of the Grizzly Giant, the
grim Primate of the grove.
The other timber, the great sugar
pines, and white cedars. yellow pines and
frs, is burned all along the road. There
is reason to believe that when a forest fire
starts the sheepherders in the vicinity
take Advantage OF it by Immediately set
ting out more fire, knowing that it will be
charged up to the first conflagration.
This summers disaster is more no
ticeable than those preceding. because it
is on such a well known tract and near
a road whose charm has been the grand
mountain forest scenery. OF course this
is not all destroyed, but the blackened
trunks and baked earth in many plases
mar the beauties which nature had law
ished there"
1t adds to the sadness of all this de-
struction that it is due to the criminal
carelessness and indifference of man. 1t
is conceded that the Montana and Idaho
fires have been caused by sportsmen who
have left their fires burning rather than
TO take the trouble of extInguishing them.
As that region is as dry as finder 1t re-
quires but little time for the fires to get
beyond control. In California the same
Is true. Both campers and sheepherders
are responsible. The former make their
fires at the base OF a tree, and when they
break camp, instead of %extinguishing
them with water or a few spadefuls of
dirt they leave them burning. The tree
is soon on fire, and rapidly spreads. The
shcepherders have a method IN their in
famous arson, for by extending the area
of the fires this season they secure a
larger pasture area next season for their
sheep, and thus they are allowed 10 de-
stroy an immense amount Of valuable
timber to obtain pasturage for their sheep
for which they pay nothing,
Is there to be no limit to this wanton
destruction OF our forests, which not only
costs millions OF dollars in valuable tim
Der, but, by wiping them out, prepares
the way for future drouths and food and
destruction in the v~alleys2 What with
the dcpredations of timber thieves, the
ravages of constituencies spectators like
those who are now operating in the
A~dirondscks, and the fearful devastation
of fire, the public domain will soon be
completely stripped of forests. 1t is time
that the states and congress came to the
rescue OF this feature of our national
wealth. Once destroyed it can never be
recovered. Its danger does not stop with
the immediate destruction of tha wooda