Alaska sentinel., 1909-02-11

In speaking of the line of action to be taken hy the government in enlisting cooperation for the common cause Forester Redington said recently: What is wanted Is an organized ef- fort on the part of the government, the states, corporations and individu- als There should be adequate fire laws in every State where any forests are located These laws should pro vide for the appointment of ire war dens. who should have authority and the power to enforce such, and to call upon the services of citizens in fight ing forest fires which occur. The law should provide a penalty 10 be i'm posed upon any man who refuses to give his services In time of need
 It Is realized that the railroads through ther s7ark-emitting locomo- tives constitute one of the chief sources of forest fires and consequent ly one of the first moves which has been made by Uncle Sam in the pres ent undertaking was to invite the rail roads to make common cause with the federal government against forest fire menace. There have been prepared articles of agreement for a eo-opera- tive working arrangement between the government and those railroads whose lines traverse the national forests in the West and this Is believed to be but a beginning of q better under standing between some of the parties most concerned Without the unsel- fish aid of corporations the United States government will have uphill work In its crusade against the forest fire menace.
 The ForeSt Patrol.
 When 1t comes down to systematic methods of fighting forest fires. the subject does not, happily, present a wholly unexplored field For some years past the United States govern ment has been rapidly developing an efficient patrol and fire fighting system on its own forests, and. nasmuch as Uncle Sam now controls about one | fourth of the forest area Tn the Unit cd States, 1t can be seen that the na- tlonal authorities have had an excel lent practice ground on which to try out their theories on large scale. The realization brought by the forest fires of 1908 of the crying need for organized effort in fighting forest fires throughout the entire country, comes | just at time when the government has its own system practically perfect. ed. and there Is no doubt that this will be used as a model that will be copied by State and county authori- ties. corporations and private individ- uals. who are owners of extensive tim. Der lands.
 Under the forest patrol system main- talned by the United States govern ment on it's own land a ranger or guard travels on foot or on horseback over the district of which he has charge at regular intervals and keeps careful lookout for any fires that may have started since his preceding patrol. This nomadic fire warden makes especially frequent trips along the wagon roads, trails or other ire quented routes of travel through the forest and not only keeps his eyes open i for incip!ent fires, but cautions all per sons who may be travelling through the l forest to be sure that any fires that they may light are fully extinguishcd before the camp ground is abandoned. The arteries of travel through the forest are also extensively posted or p!acarded with printed notices warn- ing hunters, campers and the travelling public in general against the dangers of starting fires except when absolute | ly necessary, or abandoning q camp site while the embers of the camp fire are still aglOw. Not only do the for est rangers, or government patrolmen, pace their beats" through the forest, but every now and then each of these guards climbs to commanding eleva- tions or lookout points within his dis i trict to survey the whole situation, and, if the existence of fire Is dis covered. the ranger either puts it out himself, If he Is able, or, If the flames are too formidable for his unaided ef- fort he summons the assistance of other rangers. A complete system of telephonic communication throughout | Uncle Sam's forests enables the rally ing of a good-slzed fire-fghting force at short notice. Finally, these very busy rangers follow railroad trains if their districts be traversed by the steel-tracked highways - and extin- gulsh the innumerable small fires that constantly originate from locomotive sparks.-St Louis Globe-Democrat. Outside of His Practice.