The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-12-16

With one exception there were no
serious fires during the year about
ended within the Lewis and Clarke
forest reserve. G. Moser, supervisor
of that reserve, says that the only
fire of consequence in his territory
was the one that ragged about Swan
lake early in August. That fire was
an insignificant one compare with
those that devastated part of the for
ested regions of Oregon and Wash
ington last fall, for it is estimated
by Mr. Moser that only 100000
feet of timber were destroyed.
In preventing the spread of the
Swan lake fire to greater territory
Mr.. Moser estimates that his rang
ers saved timber having an aggre-
gate value of many times what the
patrol of the reserve cost the govern
ment during the year.
In addition to that one fire." said
Supervisor Moser, the Lewis and
Clarke rangers put out fifteen fires
started by lightning, as well as num-
Der accidentally started by campers
The fires started by lightning are the
most dangerous of any we have to
contend with, for the reason that
they are usually high up in the noun
tains. where it is difficult to fight
them and where they can get under
Roadway before being discovered. We
have endeavored to keep a close
watch of camping parties, and while
they are always a source of danger,
we had less trouble from them last
year than usual.
During the year just ended, l9
rangers were employed in the patrol
of the Lewis and Clarke reserve
four more than last year. The force
is still too small, but owing to the
limited appropriation, it is impossible
to add to it now The Lewis and
Clarke reserve is one of the several
in this state, but it is the largest in
Montana and covers vast territory
The patrol is as thorough as it is
possible to make it with the limited
force of rangers. The fact that there
were fewer fires than usual this
year showed that the rangers had
been especially active.
1--WE feel" said Supervisor Moser
"that the work of our rangers speaks
for itself. Without doubt many mil
lions of feet of timber would have
been destroyed had it not been fol
their vigilance. The people are to be
congratulated that the government
has recognized the Importance of for
est preservation. Years ago fores
fires were permitted to burn them
selves out and the loss from sucI
fires was simply beyond computation
1t is a wise policy, indeed, that pro
vides for the guarding of the nation
al forests. In times past the govern
ment has lost much valuable timbe
by reason of the depredations of tim
Der thieves, but the greater loss b,
far was caused by timber fires Il
large measure losses from both thes,
causes may now be prevented"
Supervisor Moser was asked wha
he thought of the presidents recon-
mendation to make game preserve
out of the forest reserves.
81 have always believed, he sale
'that the government should prohibi
the slaughter of game within the re
serves, the same as it does in tn
Yellowstone National park. 1t is tn
only way that we may hope to pr,
serve the big game of America. III
der present conditions the ranger
are without authority and it is in
possible for them to prevent the Kill
ing of game within the reserves
Until this year big game had bee
on the increase, in my opinion, in tn