Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-11
GREAT FOREST FIRE LOSS
1T MAY NEVER BE ESTIMATED
FOR THIS YEAR.
Forestry Bureau Gives Out State.
ment in Which Governments
Work Is Commended.

The forest fires which have inst Ia,d
waste whole counties in Minnesota. Micbi-
gan. and extended into Wisconsin, des-
troying many towns and making thou
sands Of persons homeless have focused
the attention of both government and
state forest officers on the enormous
losses OF forest wealth which will be
checked up to the year 1905
In the whole northern half of the United
States throughout the vast territory ex-
tending from coast to coast the report
ed destruction by forest fires has been
terrific and 1t is likely that the year will
go down as one of the worst in the last
quarter. century. 1t seems that no part
of the country has escaped the work of
the devastating flames The latest dis
asters In Minnesota. Michigan and Wis
consin are the worst of the many that
have visited the lake states this year.
Other sections have also suffered from
forest fires during the spring and summer
months. and the people of the Pacific
coast. the Rocky mountain and the New
England states. and Canada have had a
thorough and in some cases a continuous
experience in fire fighting.
Officers in the United States forest serv-
ice here say that 1t is doubtful if this
years actual losses from forest fires in
all parts of the country will ever be
known, but 1t is certain that they will
run up so high in the millions that the
country will be startled when a compila-
ton of statistics at the end of the season
makes it possible to give even the most
conservative figures. Suffice 1t to say,
were all the timber burned I'D this wear
in all parts of the country converted into
cash. II could provide for a good sized
navy Of flrst-claSs battleshps
The fires have done good In one way:
they have focused the peoples attention
on the seriousness of the forest fire prob
lem. practical foresters say. and have
started a widespread movement in many
states to check them by adopting rational
systems Of fire protection. Among think
ing people there has been awakened an
intense interest in throwing better pro-
lection around the forests. which grow
more important as a natural resource as
the timber supply dwndles.
Government Fire Fighters.
The government has had lot of work
in the fire fighting line on the national
forests. but serious as the fires have been.
careful patrol and the organization OF
force to battle with the flames as soon
as discovered have held the losses down to
a point where they are utterly insignia
cant when one considers the fearful de-
struction which would have come about
had there been no protection.
Although the fire menace has been seri-
Gus IN all sections. officers of the forest
service estimate that the total cost OF
the forest fires on the national forests for
the season exclusive OF the salaries OF
forest officers. will not be more than $40
600. This sum is small when 1t is
membered that IL means fire protection for
approximately 16S.OO0.O0 acres of ma
tional forests. less than two-tenths of q
mill per acre.
Progressive state fire wardens and
forest officers. individuals and private cor
porations having large timber holdings
have organized fire fighting forces along
much the same line as the government in
many cases. and in this way they have
given protection to millions OF acres of
timber which might have been destroyed
had 1t been left unprotected.