, 1906-06-08

n year. Even with the best possible
system of protection there are bound
to be wide fluctuations between indl.
vidual years. But it Is believed that
expert care the injury to the ma
tional forests can be rapidly and per
manently cut down. The direct loss
from forest fires in the United States
runs annually into many millions OF
dollars, while the indirect loss is be-
yond estimate,
I'm developing its system of protec-
ton the forest service awaited itself of
past experience, home and foreign. The
reserve oficers-forest guards, assist
ant forest rangers, deputy forest rang
ers. forest rangers, deputy forest super
visors and forest supervisors-are UNI
der the direct supervision of the Office
Of the service at Washington, guided
by "A definite code of instructions; but
large authority, with corresponding re-
sponsibility, is placed upon the local
officers themselves. All except the for
and the salaries paid range from 1920
to $500 a year. Each supervisor is
responsible for the patrol of his re
serve and Is expected to devise sys
tens best suited to his locality. Al
ready, in the brief period since the or
~Iganization OF this system, a high stand
ard of efficiency has been developed,
and a much higher is expected.
"a constant lookout for fires is kept
from ridge trails and commanding
points during the danger season, and
the reserves r patrolled as efficient
ly as possible with the force available,
Roads, trails, and fire lines are con
structed, affording means of rapid com
munication and points of vantage at
which to arrest the progress of a fire,
and telephone lines are being run to
help give warning and summon assist
ance.
Every forest supervisor is authoriz-
ed, in person or through a subordinate,
to hire temporary men, purchase ma
terial and supplies, and pay for their
transportation from place to place to
extinguish a fire. When the cost is
likely to exceed $500 the supervisor tel
egraphs the forester for authority tC
incur the additional expense.
Forest rangers are required to re
port monthly to the supervisor regard
ing all fires occurring in their districts
These reports cover the location, dam
age done, probable cause, by whom the
fire was discovered, when discovered,
when brought TO the notice of the for.
est officer, when the work of fighting
the fire was begun and finished, how
many extra men were employed, and
cost of fire. At the end of the year
the supervisor submits an annual fire
report to the washington office.
During the calendar year of 1906
~thirty-six of the ninety-three reserves
escaped fires. altogether. On the re.
naming ~fifty-seven areas were burned
over ranging from one to 1908 acres
North division of the Sierra reserve)
and amounting to 279,592 acres. The
largest amount of timber was destroy
ed on the Lewis and Clark reserve
(Southern division)-42, S93, 900 board
feet. The total for all reserves was
152, 557 900 board feet, with a value OF
SOL ,2S2, but the greatest loss in money
value was s27,32O on the Priest River
reserve. The total cost of extra labor
and supplies for fire fighting was SIP,
I573.52.
THE seasons of greatest danger
from fire are spring and fall. The first
is now fully at hand, as the Michigan
losses already testify; and, unless ey
cry precaution is taken by all concern
ed, vast damage from fire, on both pub
lie and private forests, may again bt
Expected. General cooperation of al
coming in contact with the forests i!
earnestly to be sought, first, to guart
sedulously against the starting of fires
and, second, to aid in every way in ex.
tinguishing such as occur,
WE SELL ELECTRIC LIGHT FIX
lire THE h II LNI NAV ~