The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-11-09
PROTECTION OF FORESTS,
Proposed New Law to Be Introduced
at Coming Session.

George w. Cornwall of the Oregon
Timberman is interesting himself in a
Law for the protection of oregon's for
ests. 1t is the intention to have a
suitable bill brought up At the ap-
preaching session of the legislature,
and it is expected the new regulations
will have tendency to prevent fur
ther disasters of the magnitude re-
Gently occurring. Mr.. Cornwall, in a
circular letter incloses a statement
from Secretary Van Dye, of the SPRING
water relief committee, which is as
follows:
SPRINGWATER, Ore, Oct q. 1902.
The damage done in Clackan,as
county by the lire of September ILLS
is rather hard 10 estimate. The CON-
mittee here. of which the writer is sec
retary, is gathering data as fast as
possible. The information am giving
you in this letter only covers q terri
tory OF about 10 square rniles, that is.
a strip about 10 miles long and about 4
miles wide. The strip includes the |
settlements of Kickspoo, Rocky Point |
and Springwatar. I am unable to |
give the losses sustained at Beaver
Creek, Highlands, Viola and other
points in the county. but may in the |
near future be able TO supply the de-
ficieney. In the heighborhood of
which / speak, 101 fart 1ers have lost in
the fire, and their losses range from
B25 to $500. We have estimated the
oss so far at S55j45, hut these figures
gill be revised some md he total |
few thousand dollars We
lave not estimated the loss to orchards |
fruits or timber. The loss TO fruit will |
be about 1920, at present prizes OF |
dried prunes ana apples. The total |
amoun- rs above does not mean what |
it will cost TO rebuild. but about the
cash value of the oh buildings and
fences. neither have re estimated the
decreased "alue nf stock, caused Oy
the forced selling of the same made
neces ssary oy the total destruction Of
nay and grain in many instances. To
be fair with those who ilaf': lost, ! will
say that $40, 80 will barely tut them
in as good condition rs hefJre the
fire.
Now a word as to the timber. This
part of Clackamas is not noted for its
first class timber for, as a rule, the
trees are short and very Iimby. I find
BY close inquiry that about 10 sections
have been burned over, and with the
exceptions of about two sections, the
timber stuntpage would amount TO no
more than for cordTool. 4 good, fair
estimate Of the loss to timber would
,e about 1880. probably s0t000OO feet
md this would make fair lumber II
lawn in the next three or four years.
While the people of Spria ywatcr and
,icinity have received considerable aid
rom Oregon City and lsewhere in the
way of clothing, moasy, etc, for their
immediate wants, yet much suffering
Yill De experienced before spring.
losses have been tery heavy, In
iurance has heen light as only very
e wwere insured and then only for
nominal sum.
Could you see the devastation to
he farmers here from the carclessness
f hunters and campers with their fires
,ou would say that a law making 1t a
to hunt or pat out a
amp fire during the dry season would
,e about the proper thing. Give us
more stringent fire laws and then call
nut the army and navy to enforce
hem. Respectfully yours,
L. w. VAN DYKE,
sec'y springwater Fire Relief Com.