The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-08-11
Forest Commissioners Report.

We are indebted to Hon. Cyrus \. Pack
ard, Forest Commissioner of the State of
Maine, for a copy of his first annual report
to the Governor, as required by the act of
1891, chapter 100, creating commission,
which act is published as a preface to the
report. The report deals largely with the
subject of forest fires and the protection
against their destructive ravages which is
required, and in a table compiled from the
returns of Selectmen, County Commissions
ers and Fire WardenS, for the year 1891, he
gives the number of forest fires reported to
be 81, in ten counties with a total loss of
S43, 033, the number in each, the number of
acres burned and the reported losses being
as follows: Aroostook county, 13, 1877
acres, loss, $3.50; Franklin, 1, $50 acres,
loss, $3.50; Hancock, ). 700 acres, loss, S775
Kennebec, 3, 254 acres, loss, $50; Knox, 3,
80 acres, loss, S125; Oxford, 3, 800 acres,
loss, s., 600; Penobscot, I, 449 acres, loss,
500; Piscataquis, 4, Ii acres, loss, SIS;
Somerset, ,, 2,4o5, loss, S4,625; Washington,
,, 1910 acres, loss S14 ,055; York, 3, ! Jos
acres, loss, 81 $50. OF these fires, IL are re-
reported. The Commissioner says:
The devastation of forest fire is usually
underestimated Fires occur in our cities,
destroying warehouses that are occupied
for business purposes, land the blackened wall
remain for time to mark the spot where
once stood IA busy mart. The owner either
sells to others or with the aid of the insur-
ance builds better than before and the result
is a better appearance than ever and the
SfaA 10 rod, and x-n1
forest fire occurs destroying an equal amount
OF property what is the result?
The owner cannot protect himself by in
surance but must stand the loss that is the re-
suit as far as he is interested, but what is the
appearance of the tract thus deprived of all
its beauty. The pride and glory of the State
is its splendid forests not burned over, but
clothed in their natural robe of green Who
ever visited our State to it's ruined for
ests? 1t is anything but inviting to roam
over tracts of forest devastated by fire.
The returns of forest fires made to the
commission show the cause of the fire, if
known or suspected. About twenty-five per
cent.were caused by clearing land or burning
brush piles. This showing accounts for the
unwillingness of holders of timber lands
to sell farm lots. 1t too often exposes
their timber to the ravages of fires
for. Nearly twenty-five per cent. We're set by
parties TIL at We're camping out as fishermen,
sportsmen OF tourists. Ten per cent. We're
set to burn over the forest to facilitate the
growth of blueberries, or food for deer, or
from desire to destroy property, perhaps
for revenge. About thirty-tiNe per cent. are
reported as unknown.
A careful examination of all the facts will
lead anyone to conclude that no fire is so in
furious to our State as a forest fire. 1t is
confidently asserted that many forest fires
are set so that the young sprouts that may
come up from the roots of trees thus destroy
ed will attract deer to the spot where they
may be slaughtered. Such wanton destruc-
ton of property seems hardly credible. An
other class of forest fires are set so that the
that is known in some localities to be the
result.