The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-20
ANACONDA NEWS.
FIRES UNDER CONTROL
Forests Will Be Patrolled to
Prevent New Blazes.
STATE, LAW IS SEVERE
Heavy Fine and Imprisonment the PEN
atty for Setting Fires in the Woods.
Officers Are Appointed to
Make Arrests.

From the valley beyond the noun
tains forming the southwest boundary
of the city the smoke still rolls up from
the forest fires, but in diminishing
quantities. 1t is believed the fires are
being got under control.
Superintendent Knudson of the A. c.
M. company's water department has II
men at work in his forest fire fighting
brigade. Trenches are being dug and
other fire breaks constructed. Work
ing in the mountains, exposed to the
hot sun and the blaze of the fire, the
task the men have in hand is anything
but pleasant one, but no efforts are
being spared to prevent total de-
struction of the forests and thus the
injury of the water shed from which
comes the city's supply. When Mir.
knudson came in last night he reported
that he believed the fires are now UNI
der control, and unless a sudden high
wind breaks out they will spread no
further.
The suspicion that the fire was reset
Sunday grows into a conviction. A
sharp lookout will be kept to prevent
repetition of the offense w. l.. Au-
SuStine, Fl. p. Flanagan and Mr..
Knudson himself have been sworn in
as deputy sheriffs and will patrol the
nils to prevent the setting of fires by
miscreants. The federal government
maintains no forest rangers in THIS
county or the duty would fall on them,
for it is the policy of the interior de-
partment to prevent forest fires both
on and off the forestry reserves in or
der that water sheds may not be dam
aged. One of the reasons for the es-
h .s1,.. n
the setting apart of forestry reserves
was to protect water sheds. 1t is
well known fact that forests are of the
greatest Importance IN the general econ
omy of the world, influencing the hui
nudity of the air and the soil, mitigat-
ing the extremes of heat and cold ard
controlling the regular flow of streams
and the supply of perennial springs. A
denuded water shed results in sudden
Hoods in the spring, followed by long
periods of drought.
Realizing all this. the government
formed the forestry department, but
its work is practically limited so far to
the protection of forest reserves only.
Ultimately it may take in the protec-
tion of forests everywhere.
In the absence of regular forest Off
Gals the deputy sheriffs who have been
appointed will patrol the hills, and if
miscreants endeavoring to set fire 20
be made and the culprits dealt with
under the state law. Sections 1,011 and
1,o7a of the penal code of Montana pro-,
yideS as follows: d..
Every person who carelessly sets fire
to any timber, woodland OF grass, eX-
cept for useful or necessary purposes,
or who at any time makes a camp fire
or lights a fire for any purposes what
ever without taking sufficient steps to
secure the same from spreading from
the immediate locality where it is used,
or fails to extinguish such fire before
leaving it, is punishable by imprison-
nent in the county jail not exceeding
one year, or by fine not exceeding 81
600, or both.
Every person who wantonly or de-
signedly sets fire to any timber, wood
land or grass, or maliciously fails TO
extlnguish a fire after making the
same for a necessary purpose before
leaving it, is punishable by imprison-
ment in the state prison not exceeding
five years, or by fine not exceeding So
900. or both"
1t will thus be seen that the starting
of forest fires is considered grave
offense under the state law. If any
person is arrested to whom the respon-
sibility can be traced for these fires it
will probably go hard with him.