Ellsworth American., 1904-07-20
FOREST FIRES.
CAUSES TO BE INVESTIGATED
BY DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE.
FIVE MEN ASSIGNED TO THE WORK
MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT
REoCCURRENcE.

Last year Maine had the most disas.
trous forest fires In its history. A tim
oerland area OF more than a quarter
million acres was burned over, entaiing
loss beyond million dollars, Droug bit.
unprecedented in severity, had prevailed
from April to June Q, and the forests
we're in most inflammab BILE condition.
There were within sixty days 260 differ
eut fires in the burned-over districts. In
strong contrast with the experience OF
New York in the Adirondacks, only three
OF these are positively known TO have
been OF iDcebdiary origin. Maine had
Just put into operation new law amend
atory OF its forest fire warden service.
But for the more efficient work done
under this law, the fire loss would have
been much greater.
To secure the information which may
form the basis for protective measures
against future losses on such scale, and
ascertain what can be done to repair the
damage already suffered, the State author
lilies have arranged for a cooperative
fire-study OF the Maine forests by the
bureau OF forestry OF the United States
department of agriculture In accord
ance with It's usual terms of cooperative
work, the bureau will share equally with
the State the field expenses OF this study.
Five men have been assigned to 1t, and
were on the ground July 1. The work in
the field will be prosecuted through the
remainder OF the summer.
bureau of forestry fire-study includes
10 its scope everything pertaining to the
occurrence, results, prevention and ame-
liorstion OF the effects OF forest fires In
any region. The field force gathers from
every responsible source evidence con-
cerning the causes of the fires, the area
burned over, and the damage done.
Every statement Of witnesses is verified,
so far as possible, by personal investiga-
tion on the ground. 1t is ascertained
whether anti.fire laws are respected or
violated, and the attitude OF people In the
neighbor hood is learned-whether be-
cause of or despite their occupations they
dread and will fight fires, or whether they
think them OF little consequence and
peIhhps idthef Wink at LHelr occurrence.
For local sentiment is the most power
ful agency for causing or controlling fires.
The fire risk to which capital invested In
standing timber is exposed is at best
under most conditions very formidable
hazard. 1t combines infiammabilty, ex-
poaure from camp fires, smudges, careless
smokers and railroads, and scanty means
of protection-all the qualities which
insurance companies avoid In OF her risks.
With the local population indifferent or
hostile, the preservation of the forest is
almost hopeless. The agents OF the bureau
OF forestry are generally most efficient
missionaries wherever they go, arousing
the people with whom they come in con.
tact TO the interest of the community In
preventing and putting out fires From
the data wuieh hey ub,sin advice is
Civ II as to enact ment o. more atringent
laws petcol regu attuns, ana methods of
fire fl :hting
TIVE results following forest fires are
stud cd 70 de'n-rltpe vrhcthcr or not
bur I'd ever lands oNo he noode egaip to
pro" nee a tnrH.t crop. The first inuni,y