Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-08-22

To the Editor Of the Capital Jour
nal, Salem: The policy of neglect
and impractical forestry fad theories
are to blame for the loss Of millions
of dollars worth Of our forest timber
in the present great forest fires.
Instead of following the common
sense policy of burning the surface
of the ground over whenever enough
twigs, leaves and brush accumulated
like the Indian did for hundreds of
years while our forests were growing
the white man has been codling the
brush and debris in our forests un-
der the false but attractive theory
that it was necessary to protect our
water supply and also to assure
future growth of timber, with the
results that the brush and rubbish
accumulating for years is now the
cause of destroying millions upon mill
> lions of feet of our finest timber and
our wise forestry faddists admit that
the situation is beyond control and
all they can do is pray for rain.
Arguments have misled timber land
owners to believe that their patrol
system of keeping out fires was a
success and that each succeeding
year losses by fire were less, which
latter statement no one has under
taken to dispute but which has been
doubted by observers here in the |
Northwest and which can no longer |
be used to fool the people in believing
that timber is safe from fire under
the present false system of protec-
tion. 1t is a surprise that the North
west newspapers have not had more
to say on this subject, why don't
some of our pioneer men explain |
the condition they found our forests
in when they first came to Oregon?
Let us get back to where the white
man succeeded that child of nature
the Indian and learn his ways and
then let us profit at once by his
methods and after the rains start
again clean up the accumulated rub
bish in our forests and make them
safe from fires no matter how dry
or how long the dry seasons extend
or how many fires may be started in
the future. Let every timber land
owner begin this fall to clean up his
forest, 1t will be a big job because 1t
has been neglected so long but 1t will ,
have to be done and If the timber is
worth any thing it is worth protect
Ing from destruction by brush fires.
Better employ men at reasonable I
wages Spring and FAN to clean up !
-he surface of the ground and make
he timber safe from fires In the dry I
season when men are hard to get to !
light a hopeless battle that in many ]
Eases could not be won by all the I
men In the world. Control the fire !
ltuation instead of letting 1t ruin !
'ou through the policy of neglect 7
md prayers. No penalties can be I
made severe enough TO prevent fires !
rom starting because fire bugs are ]
lot easily caught, There are many Z
easons why wretched specimens of !
will start destructive fires J
md eacL succeeding year that the ac- I
are permitted conditions 7
ret more dangerous and more des- J
ruetive fires will be started. The Z
'est insurance against timber loss is 4
o clean up the surface OF the ground !
'efore and after the dry seasons !
The building of wide fire trails like Z
5 done on the brush covered noun !
aims Of Southern California is the J
irst necessary move, this could he I
lone before another dry season, then !