New-York tribune., 1910-08-27
WON'T FIRE BIG GUNS
Military Experiment Would Have
Cost Country 100000.
WITHOUT EFFECT ON FIRES
General Improvement in Forest
Conditions Reported Through
out the Northwest.
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" Washington. Aug a.-The War Depart
ment refused to-day 10 grant the request of
Senator Piles and Representative Hum
pareyS. of Washington. that all big guns IN
the vicinity of Puget Sound he fred stimuli
taneously in order TO hasten rain in the
territory now seriously nenaced by forest
fires. The department declared that the
plan VAS not feasible and would mean
waste of ammunition casting 100000.
The request came to Associate Forester
Potter who forwarded it TO the War De-
parJuent. In several instances the War
Department has tried the means suggested
10 induce rainfall. but at no time has the
experiment proved successful. The great
distance between the seacoast and the fire.
swept region also influenced the War De-
partment in its decision
The Navy Department was also asked 10
fire what few guns are under its control on
the coast. but on learning the decision of
the War Department decided that conlpli-
ance with the request would not bring
rain. The Navy Department is practically
without guns near Puget Sound at the pres
ent time, the monitor Cheyenne. with
two y and four inch guns. being the
only vessel available The cruiser Chatta-
nooga is at the navy yard there. but is be
iEg put of out of commission.
The experiment would have been one OF
the most spectacular ever attempted in the
United States. Around Puget Sound at
Forts Worden, Casey and Flagler. the army
has forty I2-inch mortarS, six Pinch rifles,
eighteen I0-inch guns and twenty 6-inch
guns, besides d large number of guns of
smaller calibre. At the mouth Of the Co
ulmbia River in Forts Columbia and Ste
vens. are eight Pinch mortars, eight 19
inch guns, three S-inCh guns and eleven O.
inch guns. in addition to the smaller ones.
To fire these once simulta neousIy, loaded
properly for the purpose in mind. would
have cost the government, 1t was esti-
mated al the War Department. $4,000. Ad-
hitting the possibility Of effectiveness. il
was considered that probably ten rounds
would have been required. This would have
run the cost up 10 a figure that the officials
did not feel justified in iocurring without
specific authorization from higher author
ity, particularly in view of the amount al
ready spent in putting thjrty-two companies
OF troops into the forest TO light the fires
Besides the element Of cost, 1t was stated
a. the War Department that the army was
not equipped with projectiles with time
fuses for the guns just enumerated, and
hence the only atmospheric disturbance
on the ground al the time Of the discharge
OF the guns and by the passage of the pro-
jectile through the air The disturbance
caused by the fight Of the projectiles, il
was said. would be comparatively negligi-
bic for the purposes Of creating q violent
confusion among the air currents.
To fire the biggest gurt in the coast ar
rillery costs about $3.50 each, 1t has been
estimated. To fire the Finch mortars costs
about S6o or go each.
Serious fires are raging on the Nez Perce
forest reserve. in the western part of
Idaho. according to a telegram received al
the Forest Service late to-day from Dis
trict Forester Greeley. at Arissoula, Mont !
Two forest officers have been sent to the |
scene from 8IissouIa and four from Ogden, |
Utah.
Reports received from the other forests, /
says the forester. indicate z general i'm /
rrovemeut. The cold nights now prevalent /
itatinE the fire fighting. He declares the /
safety of the towns in the fire district is |
now assured.
According TO reports, there was a greater 1
loss Of life among the unskilled fire fight |
ers than among those who had been /
trained Mr.. Greeley says in his message !
thai all but two permanent forest officers /
have been accounted for, with no deaths /
Among the temporary laborers there are /
seveuty-nine known deaths and fifteen men /
VnaccOunted for.