The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-05-15
Destructive rores, FIRES.

TIE forest fires in the New Jersey
| pines. just extirguished, were the most
destructive in the history OF the State and
of sufficient magnitude to attract the at
tentiou of The State authorities, who will
make an Investigation of the fires, as well
| as devise some method of prevention. 1t
| is possible at this time TO estimate the
! loss, but State geologist Smock intends
| to collect authentic data as to the area
| injured and the value of timber destroyed.
The rough estimate now at hand is over
S2o0, 600. An elaborate paper is to be
prepared for general circulation as to what
can be done to prevent the sp,e aiding OF
fores. fires over large areas. The subject
is of much importance to the eastern
states, and particularly in NV Jersey,
where forest fires are of frequent occurrence
and very destructive.
The records of the geological department
show that Professor George IL. Cook. the
former State Geologist, computed that the
loss in timber from forest fires in the State
on low estimate has averaged 81, COO 600
per year for the last fifteen years. This
loss is much more than the mere value of
the wood. The soil is impoverished by
these periodical burnings, which deprive
it OF all vegetable matter, and its capacity
for producing timber is much diminished
Professor Snock, who is to prepare the
paper on forest fires states that there are
numerous ways suggested, but the best is
to cut up the large tracts and plant farms
in the midst OF them. The Jersey pine
lands is one continuous forest. n fire once
started MAKE rapid Roadway and its fury
increases as it progresses. The planting OF
farms in the midst of this wild country
would afford good fighting ground. The
railroads'cut " ide tracks along the line of
their roads SO as to prevent communication
of fire, but in the recent conflagratiop,
flames reached the tracks. This shows
that the popular idea of preventing COM
munication Is not practical. Statistics
show that out of fifty-four forest fires III
one year, twenty-eight were started by
sparks from locomotives.
The question of devising some plan of
prevention earnestly recommends itself
to the State authorities, because New
jersey has 2,069, sos acres of woodland.
Atlantic County has 424, 436 square miles
of wooded area. Camden 104 042, Burling-
ton 500, 651, and Ocean 46l /, $780,
In 1880, aud later, Brick" Pomeroy
was laughed at for projecting a five mile
tunnel in Colorado, to get into the very
UONcio Vi VIC SiOat ocpoSito ia
that state, sixty miles west from Denver;
but now. after driving more than one mile
oftuuneling through solid granite and
reaching veins from which gold, silver and
lead ore is being brought by the car load
for the enrichment of those who bad the
courage and cash to invest. there is not SO
much haw-hawing as there was. The
large pamphlet sent to those who ask, ad-
dressing NJ. d. Pomeroy, President, Pulit-
ger Building, New York City, is very in
teresting reading, telling as it does what
pluck has and is doing for public and
private benefit.
The Chief of the New Jersey Weather
Service has received Information from ell
parts of the State regarding the effects of
the recent cold wave upon fruits and early
vegetables. About thirty per cent. OF the
early straw berries have been destroyed.
The late blooming large fruits have been
slightly damaged, and the early blooming
not so much. Concord grapes have been
somewhat injured. About ninety per cent.
of the potatoes, tomatoes and beans have
been killed.