The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-06-08

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\ est states last year than 1t did
in 1908. although the number OF
fires was 40 greater. The de-
partment OF agriculture has Just
completed the statistics. The protect
I've value of the work of the depart.
ment is shown in that o. almost so
per cent of the fires were extin-
guished before as much as FIVE acres
had been damaged; (2) less than IL
acres to the square mile OF national
forest land was burned over; 81 and
the amount OF damage done to the
burned-over area averaged but SIPS
per acre.
For the twelvemonth ended Deem
Der 81 last there were 3.13S fires on
the forests. 1.1S6 caused by locomo-
tives, 431 by campers. 2s4 by light
ming. ISL by brush burning. 81 by in
cendiaries. 3S by sawmills and donkey
engines. 1873 by miscellaneous and 75s
by unknown agencies. The area
burned over was. IN round figures.
$4,000 acres. OF which about $1,000
were private lands in national forests.
as against some 100000 acres IN 1908.
Some 10, 100000 board feet Of timber
was consumed. OF which 3S.OOO.OOO
feet was privately owned. as against
230,OO0,O0O in the previous year. The
loss in value OF timber destroyed was
less than 100000. OF which close 10
$4,000 was privately owned. The loss
Of the year before was about $450.OOo.
Damage done to reproduction and
forage shows a remarkable decrease.
less than $4,000 being the record
for 1909 and over 100000 that for
1908.
The largest number Of fires occurred
in Idaho-991; but the great increase
over 1908 IN that state-namely 573-
is entirely attributable to fires in the
Occur d'Alene, which were extin.
guished without material damage. Lo-
connective sparks were accountable for
Gil OF the blazes in this forest last
year. The explanation OF the increase
in the total for all forests is 10 be
found IN this Occur d'Alene increase.
The report OF the forester for 1909
said Of the fire record OF 1908: That
year was one Of prolonged drought
during the summer and fall. and OF
disastrous forest fires throughout the
country. The national forests suffered
relatively little. About 232.191.,
900 board feet OF timber. or OO6 per
cent OF the stand. was destroyed. e..
A total OF 2.72S fires was reported. OF
which 2.OS9 were small fires confined
as rule TO an area of five acres or
less. The cost OF fire fighting, exclu.
sive OF the salaries Of forest officers.
was s73.2s3.33. This sum. added 70
the proportion Of the total salaries OF
rangers and guards properly charge,
able to patrol and fire fighting. was
less than one-twentIeth Of one per
cent. OF the value Of the timber pro.
tected. estimated at an average stump,
age value OF two dollars per thousand"
State officials OF Oregon. associations
and individuals will cooperate wiki
the United States forest service in an
attempt to get accurate records Of all
fire losses in Washington and Oregon
last summer. The forest service will
compile report showing by counties,
the area burned over Of merchandise
timber. non-merchaatable timber. and
cut over land: the quality and value
of the timber destroyed. and the cost
OF fighting the fires. In this way the
federal and state governments as well
as the public viii be enabled to obtain
at once systematic information con
corning all FIRE losses in these states
Heretofore. this information has
been only partially collected. The
forest service has secured compre,
hensive reports from rangers on the
national forests. but from no other
source. The state boards of forestry
in Oregon and Washington have had
reports from their wardens. but many
regions had no wardens. The state