The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-22
FIGHTING FIRE
IN THE FORESTS
Capt. Seth Bullock's Suggestion
of Automatic Fire Alarms in
the Reserves.
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,

From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington.
Washington, Aug. 22.-Secretary
Wilson of the agricultural department
has announced that tentative consid-
Grafton is being given to a plan for
the further protection of forest re-
serves by the installation of wireless
telegraph stations, and automatic fire.
alarm stations in the reserves. In
taking up the question he is acting
upon a suggestion made by Captain
Seth Bullock, supervisor of the Black
Hills reserve in South Dakota. Mr..
Wilson met Bullock while he was in
the Black Hills country, and in talk
ing over the situation the subject Of
fire protection was discussed as the
| most vital one affecting the safety Of
the reserves. The idea of having au-
tomato alarms was most enticing, and
the secretary decided to have an in
vestigatiOn made at once to ascertain
the practicability and the probable
| cost Of it's establishment. Discussing
the proposition when he made the an
| nouncement of the departments con-
templated action, Secretary Wilson
| said:
'.The plans are only tentative as
yet, but the general idea is to con-
struct an automatic service which will
give the alarm when contact is made
|
| proposed to divide the reserves into
sections, with an alarm and receiving
station in each section. With the
wireless alarm arrangement the forest
rangers, and hundreds of other for
esters, squatters, miners and others
in the vicinity of the reserves will be
| able to get to the scene of the fire in
time to check the flames and save
| thousands and thousands Of dollars
| worth of trees
| While in the Black Hills country
Secretary Wilson also took up the
question of reforestation. In discuss
ing that question he said:
1.-THE object Of my trip was to en-
deavor to arrive at some method fol
reforesting the vast areas which have
been devastated of all trees. Some
/ thing must be done to preserve the
forests and along with the forests the
| water supply.
unless some step is taken soon,
believe disaster will come to the great
know, is the fourth greatest gold
producing area in the world. A depth
Of HOO feet has been reached with
i no signs of discontinuance Of the
ore, and I am Informed that the sup.
! ply will last for centuries. What ap.
i peals to me as serious proposition
! is the gradual but sure DETERMINATION
/ OIL LIE .IiSSoS eCAtAASA Ny III ~ lAls
1 woodchopper. There are acres ant
acres of bare ground there which
must be reforested, or the supply O
/ wood will cease and the operation o
the mines made either impossible O.
so expensive as to be impracticable
The old forest areas are not even re
producing, and unless they are mad
to, our children will have to look t
the 100000 acres of trees in tn
Philippines
."The question is how to refores
and the kind Of tree to be used. A
present there are only two kinds O
pine on the Black Hills reservation
Z and the department is debatin
t whether to continue this class of tire
or to rehabilitate with some othe
species
H. G. Stevens.