Alaska sentinel., 1909-02-11


 The calendar year of 1908 will be memorable as the most disastrous twelve months in history in point of the destructiveness of forest fires in the United States. It Is estimated that in ordinary years the average annual loss through forest fires in this country is not less than S5O.0o0.0O0. but, great as IS this havoc under what might be term ed normal conditions, II appears almost insignificant by comparison with the ord-breaking waste of the present period. when the aggregate loss will probably amount to several times the usual S5oo0O.O00. For considerable Interval this autumn. when the forest fires have been at their height tie flames were doing damage to the amount of S1.O00,Ooo a day.
 The principle cause of this epidemic of forest fires has been found, of course, in the drought which has been general throughout the country; but there have been other adverse conditions which have contributed to the menacing sitla- ton. Indeed. as an expert on forestry recently pointed out. II has seemed as though every imaginable unfavorable condition has been present this year to help along the deadly and destructive work Deadly-because, In addition to the loss of property, there has been an appalling loss of life in connection with this years fires.
 Even in an ordinary year It Is estl- mated that not less than siXty-fve lives are included in the toll eXacted by for est fires during the twelve months. and this year In the case of the human Sac- ri1ce, as with the loss of material things, the average has been greatly eX- ceeded Moreover, there will be se- quel to this years fires that will Lot appear In connection with any of the statistics of loss at first hand from for est fires As readers of the newspapers have had good cause to realize. the fires this year have not been confined, as Is often the case largely to the dense!y wooded and sparsely populated dis tricts. laying waste towns of consider able size and drvin. great numbers Of people from their homes. As result of the suffering and exposure thus en- tailed there will probably be much in- validism and many deaths that, not being immediately attributable to the forest fires will not be included In the 1 I,,+ HavStit11tp tho phr0n- icle of this years fire record.
 Climatic Conditions Unfavornble.
 Another unusual feature of the for est fires of 1908 Is found In the wide range of territory visited by the flames. Tn the Maine woods and in the Adlron- dacks of Northern New York; through out the State of Pennsylvania in Mich igan. Minnesota and Wisconsin and other territory adjacent to the Great Lakes the forest fires ragged simultane- ouslv. and even on the Pacific Coast the menace has been present. threaten Ing among other things the destruction of one of the finest groves of the prized biz trees. Moreover, the forest fires this year have been unusually difficult to conquer. and in many instances the owners of magnificent private forests or hunting preserves provided with the best private fre-ighting systems have found themselves unable to cope with the rapidly travelling flames and have been obliged to appeal to nearby mu- nicipalities for aid.
 The seasons unparalleled record has given the country an unpleasant object lesson as to what may happen any year and has aroused everybody concerned to a realization of the need of some better system of fighting and prevent ing this immense yearly loss. Not only have private individuals and corpora tions owning timber lands been stirred to action by the spectacle of the past few weeks, but the United States Gov ernment has inaugurated a country wide campaign that It Is believed will point a way to prevent many forest fires and to control those that, despite precautions, gain a start.
 As a first step the national Govern ment has had one of the most efficient employes of Its forest service. MT, Ray mond W. Pullman, travelling over the burned areas in the Northwest and else where. and not only gathering detailed statistics that will be of value in urging congressional action on the subject, hut also taking notes as to the physical characteristics of the fires and all de tails that might lead to a better unde-- standing of this destructive element and the best means to circumyent 1t.
 At the same time the national au- thorities have detailed an expert on for estry, MT. Paul G. Redington, to make an investigation of the whole broad subject of forest fires and to devise ways and means for an im-