The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-01-17
R7Y NZI1 III VRGW T0REOw

human life can make allowance for.
present methods make for the wiping
out of the forests. That is why so much
agitation has been heard to the effect
that forestry is federal problem
needing immediate attention.
Aside from the business aspect of
the thing, there is a sentimental inter.
est attaching which will appeal to mil.
lions who would not consider them.
selves affected in a business sense.
This is that the White mountains offer
breathing space for 100000 peo-
pie who live within "a hours easy
journey of those primeval haunts. The
very existence of this region as a
health and pleasure resort depends alb.
solutely on the preservation of the
forests, either in their entirety or by
,, conservative numbering.
Thousands of persons who were for
merly regular frequenters of the White
mountains now spend their summers
in Canada. That is because the New
Hampshire scenery is being destroyed.
Three-quarters of the population of
the United States are east of the Mis-
sissippi. Three-quarters of the wood
working industries are located east
of the Mississippi. Yet, west of the
Father of Rivers there are 14O,OO0,OOO
acres of forest reserve. And the east
hasn't an acre.
But the east is asking for 100000
acres in the Appalachians and 100000
in the White mountains. Will she get
them? That is what the western for
est reserves amount to-140,0 100000
acres are equivalent to the territory
of all the New England states, to.
gether with New York, New Jersey.
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia and part of West Virginia.
There came before the last session
of congress "a bill for the purpose of
acquiring national forest reserves in
the Appalachian mountains and White
mountains" 1t had passed the senate
and was unanimously recommended to
the house by the committee on agri-
culture.
1t is proposed to make reserve Of
5000, 900 acres. One per cent. of this,
or 10000 acres, will be preserved for
scenic effect, which means that the
scenery will be enhanced over the en-
tire tract. 1t would also be possible
to promote the cultivation along sci
entific lines of birds, game and fish,
and to provide against destructive
fires.
Fire is the greatest enemy of the
forest, and it invariably follows cut
ting unless the logging is done in the
most conservative manner. Fire not
only destroys the standing timber, but
also the young growth, the seedlings,
the seeds, the leaf litter and even the
soil itself.
And the causes of forest fires, in the
order of their Importance, are: Rail-
roads, carelessness in clearing land,
fishermen, campers and deliberate in
cendiarism.
The remedy for fires is to patrol
and warn and instruct all campers
how and where to build their fires and
how to take care of them. Maine has
perfected fire protection system of
which much is heard. y
Fire wardens are stationed with
powerful glasses on the high mountain
tops. Mr.. Sherman visited one such
station on Squaw mountain. near the
foot of Moosehead lake. Tkis warden
had revolving table and map of all
the country in sight, which is laid out
in circles, with his station as center.
When he discovers fire, n not posi-
tive of the location, he places the map
on the table and turns it until the di-
rections correspond exactly with the
lay of the country. And if Uncle Sam
should take this White mountain dis
trict under his care this fire protection
would be possible.