The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-08-09
CALL ON SOLDIERS
TO FIGHT fires
Especial to Silver State.)

SPOKANE, Wash. Aug 9.-Presi-
dent Taft, as commander in. chief of the
army, and Secretary of War Dickinson
have been requested by the Western
Pine Manufacturers association, of
which j. p. McGoidrick, of Spokane, is
president, acting in behalf of timber
owners, lumbermen and settlers in the
northwestern and Pacific states, to sta
tion government troops in national for.
est reservations from May Ito Sep
tember 30 of each year. to the end that
the timber resources of the United
States may be saved from destruction.
"The fire losses in the forests in the
western states during the last 80 days
will amount to at least $l50.000 900, -
said George M. Cornwall, Of Portland,
Oregon, who presented resolution EN-.
bodying the foregoing at the semi-an-
nual meeting Of the association, "and
it is likely that in addition millions of
dollars worth of timber viii be de-
stroved during this and next month un-
less heavy rains come before the end of
the dry season
Statistics compiled by A. w. Cooper,
secretary of the Western Pine Manu-
facturers association, show that fully
so per cent of the standing timber in
the United States is located in Wash
ington, Idaho, Montana. Oregon and
California. where fire patrols are main
tanned by lumbermen's associations and
the state departments. These, how
ever. are inadequate 20 cope with the
fire element.
''There exists grave menace to
standing timber in the national forests
on account of fires - Mr. Cornwall said
in discussing the use of troops in fire
fighting and prevention, "and this
carries with il heavy losses Of life and
property.
There are stationed at various
posts In the United States thousands of
disciplined men, known as government
troops, who could be instructed in the
methods of fire fighting and patrol
duty in the various forests not alone
in the northwest and Pacific states but
throughout the country where forests
exist
"The plan, if carried out, would be
TO place the troops under the direction
of the department of the interior or
any other department of the govern
ment in the national forests, where
they could be instructed in the meth.
DDS of fighting forest fires. which are
usually started as the result of care
lessness ON the part of hunters, camp
ers. land clearing, lumhermen and rail
roads.
seTbese forests require an adequate
patrol regularly established and main.
tanned during the so.called dry season
from Nav to September. Forest fire
fighting il science and should be
An
military tactics. Besides. no better
employment could be found Tor 'n'
soldiers than to utilize them as proteo'
ors Of life and property during the par,
Of the year when men are most heeoeo
in the forests of the country.
"We are hopeful that the pres'deh'
of the United States and the secretary
of war will look upon our request as
step in the direction of actual eonserva
ton of one of the country's cher re
sources. also that an order VIII oe y
sued to send the nearest troops lnc
the national forests. which, In severa
of the northwestern states. are not un
like furnaces at the present time.
Reports from various parts or ldahe
Washington and Montana received =
Spokane show that fires have proke
out new in the various reserves. whore
in addition to more than 1000 men no.
at work with dynamite. axes ana ma'
toxes. there is an urgent demand 10
more than double that number 10 cop
with the flames.
In the Lolo national forest In wes'
ern Montana and eastern Idaho NOR
than 8OO, 100000 feet of white and ye
low pine timber is in the path OF nr'
and other districts in various parts
the northwest are threatened. Repr
sentatives Of timber companies retur
ing to Spokane from Montana al
idaho say that the fire lines are fro
eight 10 ten miles in extent In numf
ous ptaeos.