Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-19
FOREST FIRES.
Thirty are Now Burning in
Maine Woods.
The One at Asquith Destroyed Large
tAmount of Timber.
Ten Thousand Dollar Loss Reported in
Hancock County.

Forest Commissioner Ring arrived in
Augusta, yesterday, after trip to the
northern part of the state, where he
had been on business connected with
the forest fire warden service. He
visited several points along the line of
the Canadian Pacific railway in
Piscataquis and PenObscot counties.
He reports that the woods are extreme
ly dry and that the danger of forest
fires is growing more serious each day.
Practically all the forest fire Wardens
are at work, and they are eXtinguish-
ing many small fires which, without
their efforts. would undoubtedly as
sumo large proportions and cause great
loss of property AS near as can be as
certained there are at the present time
80 different forest fires in progress,
great and small in various sections of
the Maine woods, extending from OK
ford county to the St. John river, the
boundary line of the State.
Among the large fires Which We're in
progress the past week was one at AS
quith in Somerset county, on lands be-
longing to the M. c. Shaw Lumber Co.
of Bath and J. Manchester Haynes of
Augusta. This fire destroyed about
1000 600 feet of green growing spruce,
together with the logging camp of
Michael Mari, with the contents, and
100000 feet of logs that had been left in
the woods. this spring. The fire was
uncomfortable and the large crew of
men at work could not succeed in
quenching the flames though they la
bored necessarily for three days. The
latter part of the week. a heavy rain
came and the fire was subdued. Yes
terday. however, Mr.. Ring received
word that the fire at this point had
again broken out. 1t is not expected
that this fire will burn so long nor do
so much damage as that of last week,
as the circumstances promise a speedy
control of the flames.
Another large fire occurred on Town
ship %, in Hancock county, in Union
river waters, and lasted six days,
burning 5000 acres of small pine and
spruce growth. The estimate damage
is $4,000. This fire was caused it is re-
ported by parties who were. engaged in
burning over BURBERRY lands.
Reports from ArooStook county are
to the effect that several fires are in
progress there, most of them caused
by settlers clearing land. The largest
of these was the Hammond plantation
fire which was controlled after three
days fighting.
"Other fires in progress are mostly
small ones, and will probably cause
| little damage" said Mr.. Ring, 'for the
Wardens are working upon them very
actively. [ can say that the condition
| in the woods at the present time is
very dangerous. In fact none of the
| old lumbermen whom | have seen can
remember such a season as we are now
| having. The lack of rain has prevented
| the grass from growing or the leaves
| from sprouting, and the underbrush is
| dry as finder. If the green grass and
| the leaves We're growing Il fire could
| not get such Roadway as it is now
| able to do. The conditions are similar
to those in very dry fall, in the fact
| that the woods are full of innammable
| material which makes just the kind of
| fuel to feed the flames. And the green
growth is not in existence to help re-
| tard the spread of fire when once
| started.
''The only log driving now going on
| is done by the use of stored waters,
| the DfOokS ana streams DelllS COlnlifI-
| lively dry. Many drives here have been
| held up, and many more will be I'M
| less rain comes soon.
THE situation is really alarming.
| Most of the land owners are actively
cooperating with the State in prevent
| ing and suppressing fires on their
| lands, but some are not. All land
| owners should aid the State in every
| way, for it is practically impossible for
| the forestry department, at a time like
| this. to subdue all the, fires that con-
stantly sprilng up