Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-10-05
Destructive Fires and Means Fol
Their Prevention Discussed at a
st. Paul Conference.
THE SCHEMES SUGGESTED
Some Valuable Pointers From the
Agricultural Department at
Washington.

forest fires began Wednesday morning
at the Commercial club. President
Footner stated the objects Of the con-
ference to be, how to prevent loss Of
life and property by forest fires, to CON
slider the advisability Of building reser
voirs i'll timber country, and establish
ing such other means Of protection as
seemed advisable.
Secretary McGinnis read very earn
est letter from B. F. Fernow, who is
chief. Of the forestry division in tn.
agricultural department. in Washington.
The letter said that all forest fires could
not be prevented. Some could be, ano
others could be checked. But protec.
tion to life and property could be Sc.
cured easily, cheaply and simply. Mr..
Fernow gave the following valuable
suggestions for preventing and fighting
timber fires:
State Fire Commissioners.
First-Appoint one state fire commits
sioner, who is to be the responsible
agent of the state for carrying the law
into effect and organizing the service,
and who is paid for his work in proper
ton to the value of his services.
Cooperation of Sheriffs.
Second-Make all sheriffs responsible
for the putting out Of fires in Their
county and for apprehending any in.
cendiaries; give the sheriffs power t.
c,,ooio1 f,,o 1r,o,,1o,,c %o oo
their deputies, with power to employ a
posse, when necessary, to fight fires.
@ Watch Towers and Fire Patrols.
Third Erect watch towers in suit.
able locations for the use of fire wardens
and, if possible, establish telegraphit
connections between them. Employ
additional special fire patrols in danger
GUS districts during the dangerous
months, July and August.
Make Lumbermen Burn Rubbish.
Fourth Require all lumber operators
to burn their debris in early spring
May, lit can be done, because it is
being done successfully, cheaply and
willingly by some) and, if they do not
comply, have the fire warden do it fol
them, charging the lumberman with
the expense.
Make Railroads More Careful.
Fifth Require railroad companies,
who are responsible for a large share Of
the fires, to use spark arresters and to
clean their ash pits with care, and
make them responsible under the law
for careless incendiarism and for dam
ages. They should also be required to
keep their right-of-way on both sides
cleared of infammable material.
Farmers Can BE on the Lookout.
Sixth-Require settlers and farmers
to give notice of their intention to burn
brush to the fire warden, and to obey
his instructions as to the time and man
ner Of doing it.
Pay Fire Wardens and Patrols.
Seventh--Pay the fire wardens and
patrols adequately from the state treas
ury and such a fire fund as may bs col
lected from the parties most Interested,
the lumbermen and the railroad COM
panies. 5
General Andrews' Address.
The first address to the conf ference
was delivered BY General Andrews Of
st. Paul. He said that New Hamp pshire,
Maine and New York had established
forestry commissions, whose business
required them to look closely aflel
forest fires, and to generally care fol
timber lands. In Sweden, for 200 years,
forest preservation has been going on
under government direction. Reports
Of experts were given to show the ex.
tent and value Of timber destroyed in
Minnesota and elsewhere by fires. Eu.
rope had borrowed many modern inven.
tions from America but this country il
far behind European nations in caring
for and propogating forest growth
And the time and money that Europe
bestowed had yield lded prof table returns
America could and should adopt few
simple methods for caring for timber
lands, and perfected system Of fire
prevention would grow. out Of expert
anca WisnOnain Minnnanta and ntha,