Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-01-08

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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. 1t is estimated that in
ordinary years the average annual loss
through forest fires in this country is
not less than $50,OOO,00O, but, great as
Is this havoc under what might be term
ed normal conditions, it appears almost
insignificant by comparison with the
recOrd-breaking waste Of the present
period, when the aggregate loss will
probably amount to several times the
usual $50,00O,OOO. For a considerable
interval this autumn, when the forest
fires have been at their height, the
flames We're doing damage to the
amount Of $1,0O0,OO0 day.
The principle cause Of this epidemic
Of forest fires has been found of course,
In the drought which has been general
been other adverse conditions which
have contributed to the menacing sitIa-
ton. Indeed, as an expert on forestry
recently pointed out, 1t 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 esti-
mated that not less than sixty-five 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
rifice, as with the loss of material
things, the average has been greatly ex-
ceeded. Moreover, there will be a Sc
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 newspapo RS
have had good cause to realize, the fires
this year haye 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 driving 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
statistics that will constitute the chron-
icle of this years fire record.
Climatic Conditions UnfavOrabIe.
Another unusual feature of the for
est fires of 1908 is found in the wide
range of territory visited by the flames.
In the Maine woods and in the Adiron-
dacks of Northern New York; through
out the State of Pennsylvania in Mich
igan, Minnesota and Wisconsin AMI
other territory adjacent to the Great
Lakes the forest fires ragged smultane-
ously 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 priced
big 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 fire-fghting systems have
found themselves unable to cope with
the rapidly travelling flames and have
been obliged to appeal to nearby mu-
inequalities for aid.
The seasons unparalleled record has
given the country an unpleasant object
Iesson as to what may happen any year
and has aroused everybody concerned
to realization Of the need of some
better system Of fighting and prevent
ing this immense yearly loss. Not only
have private individuals and corpora
tons 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 start.
! AS a first step the national Govern
ment has had one of the most efficient
employees of its forest service, Mr.. Ray
mond w. Pullman, travelling over the
burned areas in the Northwest and else
where. and not only gathering detailed