The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-11-16
FOREST FIRE PREVENTION.

The Prussian system which Protects
100000 Acres of Trees.
Since the Prussian government for
ests comprise 6,OOO, 900 acres, what is
characterized as q large number OF
forest fires, some of them extensive"
mean a little over one-hundredth Of I
per cent. of the forest area; and we
must not overlook the fact that more
than half Of this forest is coniferous
growth, mostly pine, and therefore
especially liable to fire. The cause in
most cases is noted as neglect. Loco
motives are not mentioned, showing
that r~ailroading nay be carried on
without the necessity OF extra risks.
During the ten years, 1ss2-lS91, there
had occurred in these forests 1856 larger
conflagrations-96 from negligence, 50
from in-will, 5 from lightning and only
I from locomotives. Seven years out
Of ten are without any record of fire
due to this last cause.
This record, which to us at least
would appear like perfection. is due.
Of course. in the first place to the fact
that these forests are under a well-or-
Kanized management, which insures
the constant patrolling Of the same by
officers In pursuit Of their business.
Regulations n to the treatment of
dres are, therefore, readily enforced,
and any incipient fire is soon'discov-
cred and put out. Besides this. the
method of dividing the forest into
blocks or compartments by intersect-
ing avenues, rectangular or otherwise,
at regular distances, permits n small
force to readily prevent the progress
Of fires and confine them within the
block,
Where railroads run through forest
lands, especially in the extensive
pineries of the Baltic plain. additional
precautions are practiced. OF course.
spark arresters are in common use,
but the main reliance is laid on a
safety strip" running along the rail-
road, and more or less elaborate.
Often this is only a clearing, frequent
ly cultivated by the guards rs a potato
patch or for u field crop. The ideal
and most effective treatment is a rail
road embankment, which Is, of course,
kept clean of inflammable matter by
timely burning; then q cleared space
about Z yards in width; next a strip OF
forest Is to IS yards wide, in which
the ground Is kept as clean as practi.
cable and free from dry wood, and
which acts rs q screen for flying Gin.
ders; beyond this is . ditch 10 to !:
inches deep and s to Q fee. wide, the
dirt of which IL thrown to one side
making a ridge which may be planted
with broad-leaved trees. About every
20 rods a cross ditch Is made, so that
the whole combustion safety strip
which is about 30 yards wide, is di
vided into smaller fields. within whicl
it Is easy for one man to confine an in
cipient fire.
In this country we would hardl,
need to go to SO much expense. but W,
might considerably reduce with SINAI
outlay much Of the loss from locomo
tive fires. The Pennsylvania railroad
company in New Jersey. from Camdel
J to Cape May. in preference to paying
damages to the forest owner, ha
plowed or scariHed on either side O
it's road q strip about n rod wide, an
this is tolerably effective. A ditc
within 80 yards from the right of wa,
, in the woods, and a timely burnin
over in spring of this space, would b
D more effective, and l think any adjoir
, ing forest owner would gladly perm
. such protective measure to be taken h
I the railroad company on his land, ano
indeed. coufd afford to contribute
? the expense.
q This cause of our forest fires, theI
is largely avoidable; and so would l
3 the fires due to other carelessness.
4 we should once set out in earnest
e. punish the or .nder. The trouble wit
our laws, even when they are backe
by public sentiment, is mainly hat IL
machinery to execute them is al
sent or too weak. Minnesota, frigh
ened into action by the sad experienc,
y Of last year, this winter enacted a fiji
d law, with n commissioner to execute
i. Wisconsin, which has suffered almo
as badly as her neighbor, has also e
acted a law, approved on April II,
q which the chief clerk of the state lar
" Office is made the forest warden, wit
e the assistant chief clerk as his deput
t In both cases an organization of exis
o ing town officers as fire wardens is Il
J. tempted, but whether these Office
It will be able to do their various duti
It without neglecting the last one il
5; posed remains to be seen. especially
d the provisions for expenses are q
tremely scanty. These laws, as w,
he as the one so satisfactorily inaugural,
in Maine, are remodeled more or lie
h closely after the forest fire law of Ne
I. York.
10 Not all of the forest fires are ayoi