Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-02
PREVENTION OF ~. " E. 3. ::
the FOREST FIRES

In referring :ast w.I to the re-
Icurrence of destructive forest fires in
the northwest we suggested that per-,
haps the National Conservation Com
mission could find TO subject OF more
pressing Importance to enlist its in
|terest than that of suggesting means
for preventing or checking the sprt al
OF such fires. Some Of the official
material that. has come from Wash
ington during the week indicate that
the subject Is engaging the active at
tention of the commission as we'll as
OF the national and state forestry or
ficials. The opinion is indeed enter
tanned by the officials that the -ear
will go down in history as one of the
worst In the last quarter century.
Scarcely any part OF the country has
escaped. and it may be doubted wheth-
er the years actual locs will ever be
accurately known. but it is thought
that the country will be startled when
q compilation Of statistics at the end
OF the season makes 1t possible to
give even the most conservative fig-
ures.
Regrettable as the destruction of for
est wealth b. firss has been. the oc-
laurence CT SO many Of these at a
time when the general subject of coz
lserving the nfiional ge.ource- has
bean so prominent a subject Of discus
sion has served to focus general at
tention upon the seriousness of the
problem involved and the Importance
of checking ares by some rational
system OF protection. Practical for
esters say that an intense interest in
the matter has been awakened among
thinking people who have learned that
the timber supply Is dwindIing. I'm
der the circumstances 1t Is natural
that the experience Of the national
lgoverIment. which has extensive for.
est reserves under it, cwn control
land trained forestry experts in its
employ. should be looked TO as fur
nishing valuable suggestion. The
Government has had. In truth. lot
cf work in the direction CT fire-nghs.
ling in the national forests, but though
1.-THE fires have been in some cases
SERIOUS, careful patrol and the organ
'ization of force to battle With the
flames as soon rs discovered have
held the losses down to an insisnfi
icant amount when the widespread de-
Istruction which might have come
IaiDut without protection is cousiier'
led. -
II is estimated by the officers Of the
Forest Service, for example. that the
total cost OF the fires In the national
forests for the season, exclusive OF the
salaries OF forest 0Gacers, VIII not Be
more than $30,O0e. THIS sum Is GER
tainly small when e 70 recoilected that
lii mans Ere protection for approx
imately 1sS, Oe0.o zoo acres CT national
forests The cost ID thus lees than
,.twotenths Of mi;l per acre u Is en-.
icoura8ing to -leasu that progressive
/, state FIRE wardens and forest omeers'
individuals nd private corporations
hsy.ag large timber holdings have
'orvanixed fire-sigtting forces a'ons
much the sGHs hnes ~ the Severn
ment in many cAses. and In this way
have given protection % millions Of
isrrcs OF tinSer WEIGH might have
been DESTROYED II left unprotected. y
nsy be taken for granted that Win
the material which % win have NJ
hand In relstica 20 The source On
waste here consiieeed. and The ex-
perseuce Of foresseH - dealing WA
> u. the Conscrvatiop Commission MN
1 be able to present. snne recommenas'
;ioas regarding fire prevention wassa
win be Of yslae. scd- coz !acssnS the
present atiisule Of the pas'sc mind.
iviH have q WIDER and . mere attea-
tive .sceptioe than hes escr been POS
sible before.
u IS not hy ercs ajcae. howesSr.
.ss,af the ssmbce supply 10 wsssed.
,Sone waste coald be xsvcd BY . us"re
ecooomtcal use q ]s0ecr In msnu-
Sscfusfae. This = . 0ssisr vhseh the
Cons-rsaiicn Coamissioa " takfns sp
ovcasr exesrsses - aesebsss csSnsy.
! On Sunday next. October $th. the
Osd pomiuion Llns sfeamer Hsmp-
ton Roads wiz mase . special Trip 10
Mathew ~oupsy. Live O;d Point
a m. Ysrc. roupd trip. 6.ts.
Ies-H w. " LANpOS, Asfat
Bavs ycw prsesrsyessas due1 b,
Q rSadasse q PesrRscy ~ Al'cn pr
Nae. Hsessts q - - "