Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-10-23

fANPoscu snere was an artempt 10 en-
list the timber interests of the State
In way to provide funds to carry out
Its provisions; but, strange to say,
the heavy timber interests opposed
anything that more than requested
the 'frebug to be good" Since that
time enough valuable timber has been
destroyed in Oregon to put a well
paid and efficient fire warden in
every timbered townsite in the state
during fire season. Now the case
looEs more hopeful. timber owners are
ready to get together and il is proha-
BILE law will be enacted at the com.
ing session that will provide for a
State Forester, with assistants in dis
triots throughout the state, and an
appropriation to make the law effec.
tive.
Getting back to the hunter ques-
tion; which is certainly THE fire
question in Southern Oregon, we have
hard problem. l am an enthusias.
tic hunter myself and anything that
would interfere with the sport. would
be extremely bitter to take; but the
time for sentiment is rapidly passing /;
timber Is becoming too valuable and
too many people becoming interested
in it, and the time is approaching
when we must by law, or education.
cut down the percentage of hunters
hres il the woods, or hang up
our rifle during the danger
period / will be surprised If the
timber organizations, smarting under
the heavy losses from this cause
during the present year, do not make
an effort to cut down.the open season
| for deer.
'This might be avoided by making
good fire law with money to furnish
su ufficient paid help to make it effect.
i've, and have provision therein that
hunter forfeit his license, on proof
Of having left an uncared for fire, as
well as suffer a severe penalty; but
this without good. well paid, patrol
force would be useless
~ am not making ANY law to cover
the matter; only picking out the
suags for the other fellow. No mat
ter how good a fire law is enacted,
we will never get nearly its possible
benefits until the people mot only
timbermen) are educated to its
importance, never until the sentiment
Of the people is such that they VIII
feel the same toward man caught
setting IRE in q $50, 900 tract OF tim.
ber, as they do now on catching one
setting fire to his neighbor's ~;
woodshed. When they realize that II
is Just as much criminal carelessnesi
for hunter to leave his campfire
burning close to au old log (thougf
safe at the time) in the midst of ,
magnificent forest, as it is to leave hi
candle burning in his bedroom on
mass of paper S; then We will begin tt
get effect OF forest fire law beoaus
then we will only have the crlmina
to deal with. aud he is easy.
"But all men who are careless. o
thoughtless about fires are not crimi
ral, aud this is particularly true u
Sout1ern Oregon, where msny of I'll
best citizens convince themselves tha
tre cid. traditional, Indian way G
, Keepiug down fires by burning out th
seedlings was the Iroper way to pre-
tect the mature timber. | an nc
finding fault with any honest man
theory and | have met some might
5 fine men whom | hnow think a ma
P who's. Is fire TO thicktt OF seealin
3 mines or frs in scattering forest
! mature treas is bene factor. Man
of the older settlers can point to hill
; side aud truthtfully say: i kne'
e that plac. when you could Sc a deer
half mile. Encouraged he will the
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