The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-25
CHARRED FORESTS
State Geologist Report Tells
of Damage Done
By Fires.
CARELESS RAILROAD COMPANIES
Proposed Legislation to Check the
Danger-Passaic Drainage and
Marsh Reclamation.
RAILROAD COMPANIES

Perhaps the most interesting part of
the recently issued report of the State
Geologist is that which deals with forest
fires. and concerning which special att
tention has been paid with the hope of
devising a practical plan for the check
ing of this great evil.
Only a few weeks ago the newspapers
published long accounts of the rayages
by fire among the forests of New Jersey,
and as Mr.. John Clifford in his report on
this matter to the Geological Survey
truly observes: UNLESS this wholesale
destruction of useful property is reduced
the COASTAL plain of New Jersey will
soon approach a condition little better
in appearance than a desert"
For many years prior to 1895 never have
fires been more destructive than last
year. In other years, says the report.
they nave burned over larger areas of up
land. but recently the fires consumed the
humus and litter in the Dogs and swampss
the dampness of which is usually suffi-
cient to stay their progress. Every
county suffered, but they were more
frequent in Atlantic and Cape May
counties. probably due to the fact that
the forest area is large and continuous
and the region is traversed by several
railroads over which many trains pass
in the course of a day in summer One
of these railroads has taken very few
precautions. and judging from the way
sparks are showered into the air it is
indeed a wonder that any combustible
property is left along the line. AS an
instance of what a mischief a spark may
do in a forest the following is only one
of many
On Octobed Is a spark from a 1ocomo-
tive near Mckee City started a fire which
lasted ten days. This fire was held in
check for some time by section men. 1t
was burning in such a way in the swamp
land that they were unable to e~xtingussh
it. It swept over about 1000 acres n
destroyed a very great deal of fine cedar
fencing and a sawmill belonging to
Colonel John Mckee. 1t entered Grovelly
Run cedar swamp and caused a great
deal of destruction, not only consuming
some of the finest white cedar in the
State of New Jersey, but burning the
corduroy roads which lead into tho
swamp. Old woodmen claimed that they
had never seen It equalled for havoc.
Many trees from 10 TO Is inches in iii
ameter, close together, very straight and
free from limbs 80 feet from the ground,
tumb.ed over IN every direction. forming
large impenetrab.e masses OF charred
timber.
The causes of destructive forest fires
IN New Jersey for last year are sum
married by Mr.. Clifford in the following
table
MARCH.
Three caused by sparks from loco
One by a careless tramp.
One, cause not known.
One, incend.ary.
meadows.
APRIL.
Six caused by sparks.
One, careless workmen burning brush.
Two, careless smokers.
One, ~incendiary.
One, cause not known.
One, escaped while burning a safety
strip in order to protect cranberry bog
from fire.
Thirteen, sparks from locomotives.
One, ~incendiary.
Three. carelessly or purposely set by
One, cause not known.
SEPTEMBER.
W carelessiy set by feeble minded
Three, carelessly set while burning
brush.
One, SET careleSSly or mallciOuSly.
One, set by an Italian back-firing in
the wrong way.
One, set by careless smokers.
One, set accidentally by Italians cook
dng in the woods.
OCTOBER.
Two, sparks from locomotives.
One i~ncendiary.
Sparks from locomotives, "a.
Maliciously. 4.
Accidentally or carelessly, 20.
Area devastated, $4,000 acres.
Loss per acre, $40.
I'm a region of berries, although a mys-
terry at the time, it often becomes known
later that fires We're set to improve the
berry crop. An observer from Ocean
county writes: The natives are sus-
picious of me, thinking that will have
them punished for starting d fire. Many
of them hin that fires. improve their
berry crops and like to see them burn
There is no room for doubling that fires
are set in that way; in fact some do
NOT hesitate to acknowledge that they
nave set fires for that purpose. When
a land owner refuses to let people pick
wild berries on his property, fires are
often started out of spite"
the people. especially woodland owners:
wide fire lanes and paid wardens.
The division of forestry have drafted
an act for the. protection of forest prop
eTity. This measure provides for a Forest
COMMISSIONS who will be responsible
for the forest property and its protection
from fire. Tt provides for the organiza-
Ifon of a fire service, a fire indemnity
fund of 81 from each county for each
acre burnt each year and the fund to be
applied to the maintenance of the sys-
tenn; jurdsdiction and legal remedies for
Furnishing those who set fires and the
liability of railroads.
Railroad companies. under this act.
are to keep their right of way free from
in~1arnmable material by burning at GER
stain dates to be established by the Forest
Commissioner Failure to do so will
mean the arrest of the superintendent Of
the section, who shall be liable to pro-
makes It a misdemeanor to disobey the
posted regulations of the Commissioner
THE companies are to use spark arrest
ers and again Mr.. Superintendent OF
the section must look out. Any fire aris-
ing out of the companies neglect win
be laid at the door of the superintendent