The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-31
GUARD THE GRASS CROP
Prairie Fires in the Eastern Part
of the State Are
Frequent
Parties Guilty OF Negligence
Should Be Held to Answer
Promptly.
Little Harm Done So Far. But the Neces.
slty for Exercising Great Vigil
lance Exists.

Sies-in almost every section OF the county
are recsived with an alarming frequency.
Last weels a fro was reported in tho vicinity
of Sheep mountain. This week opened
with ruuors Of fres on the Cheyenne res
s~rvation and on Otter creek. These II es,
fortunately, must nave been comr arativsly
insignificant in extent and in destructive
consequences In one case the fire has
been attributed to lightning, in another
case il was negligence if not worse and the
party having lone the damage fled from
the consequences of his carelessness Oh
crime, and if by good fortune the results
vera not too serious il was none OF his
fault, says the Stockgrowers Journal.
So far little harm has been done, and
these repeated warnings will be e blessing
in disguise if they only wake people up to
the necessity Of exercising the greatest
vigilance in the preservation of the grass.
Every man connected with cattle outfits,
round-ups or camps should make it his
personal duty to prevent destruction,
whether from accident or design. Every
man shouldsmake himself an officer OF the
law to the extent of reporting all infrac-
sions of the law Regarding precautions to
be taken by campers to prevent the starting
of the devouring element. 1t is impossi-
bic to be too careful in this respect. The
recent torrid spell of weather mas dried mp
the grass TO the extent that a smouldering
cigarette famed by the slightest breeze is
sufficient 10 start a fire. The head man of
every camping party. the foreman of every
cattle outfit, should not be satisfied
with q report even from ths most
trustworthy subordinate that We fires
49, -- 500 a,I Aha -, haHa q
curelv buried. He should ascertain and
satisfy himself by actual personal in
spection that all the proper preservatiye
precautions have been taken. An experience
OF many years in the camping business has
taught as that this Is a duty that Gun not
be safely trusted TO q subordinate Even
in the beat disciplined outfits the eye of the
chket person in authority il necessary to Sc
cure a compliance with the rules p-escrib-
ing the precautions TO be taken in order TO
prevent the spread of fire upon the prairie.
The most careful employe will occasionally
trust q little to luck. especially If he 10 tired
or not feeling we'll, or In a hurry 20 break
camp. II he knows. however, that his
boss" IL sure to come around and see If he
has done his duty, he lie very likely to do it.
This ia human nature. even the best va
ristiss Of II. The proverb says the eye of
the master fattens the horse. and IL Is just
rs true that the eye OF the master will pre-
oo.N0 ~ SA0eo . "hiSh eAo > 40 "
be fattsned.
It is everybody's interest to see that the
grass Ia protected and that all ~neRlects or
offenses which eudanger it are reported to
the proper authorities and the charges
against the offenders pushed to a prope
and sufficient punishment. The grass is
said by some TO be q little shot in some
places. Hay will be below the demand in
some places az we'll as in this country, 80
that in no event can we afford to indulge in
any culpable or negligent waste. If lack
of rain makes grass scarce or the hunder-
bolt of heaven destroys it in its maturity
these are the acts of God which no human
foresight can guard against and contem-
plating scarcity or loss from such causes
the cattle grower ~Rrapples on to his philos-
ophy and cheerfully submits to the newt
able. But when the crop given by beneti-
cent nature for the su%stenance Of stock ia
DESTROYED or diminished by the act
She loss 10 harder to bear and
to use q homely bnt expressive
phrase, all who are interested in a good
and sufficient grass crop have a right TO
kick. Want of rain may make lack of
grass; lightning may burn It; financial
crises may temporarily paralyze industry.
These roublss could not have been averted
and they can be borne with fortitude and
resignation, but losses or damage that need
not have been, losses or injuries due to the
carelessness of some worthless tramp or
idler, or the crime of some outlaw or mis-.
creant, these are hardar to bear because
they might have been averted, and merit
the severest punishment ths law allows.
Let tbs first parties that are guilty of neg
ligence In their fire recautions be promptly
held to answer, and upon proper proof pun
isned to the full extent of the law, reea d
less of who they may be or how extensive
business interests they may represent. It
has been we'll said that Montana has no
grass to spare for fuel this yea