The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-10-21

tlnguish their campfire before leav-
ing camp thoroughly and then some
more to make sure.
Let me tell you somtthiug of the
regulars work. II you ride throuIh
Il reasonably dense stand of timber,
your range OF vision is limited. 40
rods on each side easily shuts out the
View. II our 200 900. 900 acres of na-
tionM forest were stretched out In a
band so rods wide. II would reach u
distance OF 100000 miles or 80 times
around the world. The ranger Is re-
quircd to patrol about 100000 acres on
the average: this would give him a
625 mile section OF this strip. With
vast area 20 patrol It is clearly
very necessary TO take advantage of
every means available for observation.
Lookout points are established on
prominent mountain peaks Offering
vantage points for sweeping the coun-
try with field glasses. as rapidly as
possible telephone lines have been
run 20 such lookout points in order
that should the watch OF the noun
tain top see smoke rising In any direc
tlon the word may be given his sup
ervisor OF the location OF the fire and
men and supplies may be rushed at
once to the scene of action.
In fighting flre In the woods the
same essentials arc necessary as for
a city fire department II Is flrst nee
essary TO reach the fire with men and
equipment with the greatest dispatch
Half-a-minute delay NAV spell the diff
ference between security and disas-
ter. Prompt action In the field Is
just rs essential. only the run to the
scene OF danger may be forty miles
instead of four blocks. Again good
judgment and quick thought arc nee
csSary when the scene of action is
reached In the city sending the line
OF hose up this stairway instead OF
up ladder and through that window
may lose the fight, and so in the for
est making a stand at this stream In
stead OF backsfring along that road be-
tween the fire and the stream may
mean the loss OF 10000 acres of yalu-
able timber: and always in the forest,
as everywhere In life. courage persls-
tency. and dogged patience are essen.
tlal to success
The country included I'm our for
csts is practically all mountains, wild.
rugged and in some instances, almost
uneXplored Trails and roads are be
ing built as rapidly as sGnGs IRE
available. but TO make many Of the
areas accessible VIII be the work of
4 generation of empire builders. For
many of the Wild trails ] know OF no
better description than Millions ac-
count Of the path along which Satan
In Paradise Lost pursues his way
from Tartarus TO Eden Neither sea
nor good drT land. on which nigh
foundorlng. on he fares half on foot.
half flying Indeed, much of the
country TO be patrolled is so Wild and
rugged and the distance so great that
We cannot help but sympaihlze with
the California Forest Supervisor. who
declared that he should have centaurs
for rangers. You are all familiar with |
the story Of the centaur. that fabulous
being In mythology. represented as !
half man and half horse \ certain Z
In California, despairing OF
doing the work the Washington Office
expected Of him. wrote in describing
the difficulties OF travel. explained
that the work they required of him
could be done if they would furnish
him a few ccntaurs for rangers, con ,
Guiding his letter with the request, !
please send me two bays and a pin
to-"
Protection Of OUT forests against |
IRE necessitates three things educa- !
tion, so fire will not be carelessly |
started, organization. so men who |
know how to fight forest fires may he
prepared and equipped for the fight.
and transportation. so the field of
danger may be reached in the shortest
Tine
To me there Is something noble
and elevating i'll n mammoth tree
which has braved the storms and dan.
gers OF 200 years Few Of our forest
.rees are put TO use at an age of less
hen 100 years. and in a virgin forest
The majority OF the trees which are
tut down and sawed into lumber,
range from 200 to 800 years old The I
sequoia, or giant redwood Of Cali.
Iornia. reaches an age yariously esti-
mated from four to six thousand
years Such a space OF time is almost
beyond the grasp OF the human imagi-
nation, and to our finite minds ap-
pears nearly commensurate with i'm.