Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-10-21
FOREST FIRES .
How Uncle Sans Forests Are Pro-
tected.

How Uncle Sans Forests Are Pro-
Nothing could better call the attention
OF thinking people to the necessity for the
preservation OF our natural resources than
the great forest fires which have been SO
widely distributed throughout the coun-
try and have played such havoc this sum-
mer.
1t is doubtful il the losses for the year
1908 will ever be fully known, but con-
sentative estimate by DR.. w. j. MCGEE,
erosion expert, United States department Of
agriculture, places the aggregate loss in all
parts Of the country during these months
OF confagration at u ,OO0, 900 day.
In nearly every instance, probably in
every instance, these devastating fires
might have been prevented if the various
states had provided an adequate number
Of men to patrol the woods and arrest all
such fires in their incipiency, and if lum-
bermen and other users of the forest were
| careful to dispose OF brush after logging
SO as to prevent the spread OF fires.
Uncle Sam has had lot OF work to do
| on his national forests in the fire-fighting
line this year, but his work has shown
good results. Exclusive OF the salaries o
forest officers, the work Of putting down
| fire on the national forests for the year
has cost the government $4,000. This
means protecting approximately 1853 ,O00,-
900 acres.
The value OF the timber destroyed will
not be known until the fire reports are
made at the end Of the year, though it is
estimated that it will be larger than last
year. But it will be insignificant when
compared with the appalling fire losses
| outside Of the national forests on unpro-
tected areas, or with the destruction which
| would have come to the timber in the ma
tional forests had they not been protected.
| These results have come through the in
creased efficiency of fire patrol and meth
DDS Of fighting fire and through the CO.
operation Of settlers and users OF forests
who understand that the forests are their
property and that loss from fire is per-
sonal one. By posting fire notices and
giving advice the government has secured
cooperation from the outside, which may
/ OS ooAA w 10 90 ALpoi Oil dkChCy III
reducing the loss from forest fires as is
the perfection OF machinery for fighting
these fires.
| After timber is cut, the regulations re-
quire brush to be compactly piled at safe
distance from living trees. Sometimes
| this brush is burned under direction OF
forest officer; but even if it is allowed to
| atond fro or 70 Ind ,o1 h0y
which it can spread.
The national forests are constantly pa
trolled by a picked force OF rangers aud
guards. The present summer force of
such rangers and guards whose main duty
is fire patrol, is 1851 men; the average
area thatIeach is required to protect is 121, =
sos acres. 1t is fully understood that this
area is altogether too large, and just as
soon as funds are available to permit of
the employment Of q larger force Of men
the area will be reduced.
In order to provide rapid means OF travel
between the various parts Of the national
forests and to facilitate the massng OF
large forces OF men to fight fire, as well as
to furnish vantage points from which the
fires may be fought successfully, 100 miles
of road and 8, 800 miles of trail were built
during the last fiscal year.
In several cases fire. breaks from sixteen
to 100 feet in width have been constructed
from which all timber and infiamma BILE ma.
terial is removed, to furnish obstacles te
the spread Of fire, or straight lines OF de.
tense in fighting the fire once started
Several miles of such fire. breaks now ex
ist on the national forests in southern
California, where it is especially impor
tant that the forest cover on the water
sheds Of important irrigation streams b.
protected.
Telephone lines have been constructed
connecting ranger stations with the head
quarters Of the forest, in order that fires
may be reported and promptly extin
. guished. During the fiscal year endinf
} June 80, 1908, $500 miles of telephone line
, were contracted in the national forests.
Just as rapidly as possible, each nationa
forest is supplied with shovels, axes, anc
other tools, which are distributed over the
forests and cabins, and tool boxes are
placed at points where there is the great
est danger of fire and where they can be
easily reached by trail. Field glasses are
also furnished, since their use in discover
ing small fires at a considerable distance
has proved very helpful.
Upon the basis of the forest service ex-
perience on the national forests on which
the total administration per acre, includ-
| ing fire patrOI amounts to only one Der