The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-09-22
CONTEMPORARY cATAsTnorHEs.

1T never rains but It pours' goes
the old saying, and experience In hui
man affairs shows that there Is con-
siderable amount OF truth In t. II one
can stretch the Imagination to the ex-
tent OF thinking of forest fires in
terms of pouring" It may be truly
said that these mighty CONGREGATIONS
in this country this summer have
shown the truth OF the old saying re-
f,red TO-
Periodically the newspapers Of the
country voice mighty demand for
greater foresight against the inestl-
mable ravages by FIRE in our American
cities. pointing out statistics by the
score to show to what a sum the prop
crty losses, due to this cause amount
Not a whit less important are our loss
o. by Are in the fosests. A fortnight
ago somebody evidently OF a mathe-
NAUTICAL train of mind figured out that
the worth of the great amount OF
standing timber burned during the
present summer IN this country fully
equaled the cost OF building first
class navy, Since that time In Maine,
Vermont, the Adirondack, among the
giant trees OF California. and In the
northwest these fires have been raging
with increasing fury, consuming trees
and rolling up the property losses at
an increasing speed with the hours
that pass. Tho last reports tell of the
mad rush Of the wild animals OF the
forests from these scenes OF devasta-
tion and the conclusion follows that
the end is not even yet in sight
II there has been need OF united ac-
ton to bring about powerful govern
mental interference to save our forests
from the aye Of the woodsman. greedy
for the dollar there Is an even great
er need for protection, governmental
or otherwise, against these ravages by
the fire-f1end In seasons OF drought.
The matter must be gone about sys-
tematically. Abroad, where systematic
/ forestry has become a necessity. the
custom has been to cut broad avenues
through the forests to prevent fires
I from getting the Roadway that makes
them stupendous and ungovernable
Possibly that is the solution here.
Yet, with the full realization of the
true significance and Importance OF
the forest fires in America, comes the
news OF other possible inciplent dang
ers Of no less concern elsewhere. From
the Philippines come significant re.
ports OF the beginnings Of a cholera
plague there, reports that have aroused
the New York Herald to consdera Vic
extent. Fearing lest the plague NIGH
be communicated to our sailors, shoulo
the big fleet anchor in the waters o.
the Philippines, and fearing more re,
motely that the sailors in turn. nigh
take the dread malady back to Eu
ropean ports, where the fleet is sched
uled to stop, and finally bring 1t home
here to America with them, the Her
aid urges the government to canoe
the visit of the fleet to Manila.
From Egypt, too, come reports o
possible wholesale dangers in the nea
future Of monster proportions. There 1
every indication that the Nile will thi
fall overflow its banks, to an exten
Enever before witnessed In the las
twenty-five years, that many of tn
dams and levees may give way an,
whole cities swept away before the an
cry waters and the whole country de
vastated 1T never rains butit pours
indeed. If there are those who ar
looking for sensations, they may YER
possibly live to learn that 1908 will b,
known as the year OF monster catastro
pies, by fire, by disease and by wa
! ter.