The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-10-29
Timber Owners Will Meet at Mar
uuette Next Week Saturday
to Form Fire Protective
Association
FORCE OF RANGERS PROPOSED
plans Have Been Suggested to Give
the Holders Of Wooded Areas
Protection Against Fires by
System of Patrols.

Marquette, Mich, Oct. 29.-All own
ers of upper peninsula timber lands
are invited to attend a meeting at the
Marquette club next Saturday, Nov.
& at 10 o'clock, the purpose OF which
is 10 consider the organization OF
northern Michigan forest fire protec-
tive association. The leading spirit
in this movement is II. A. Green, gen.
eral manager of the Greenwood Lum-
Der company. of Ontonagon, and he is
understood to have the hearty sup
mort and cooperation of a large num-
her of the timber owners of the upper
peninsula.
As stated in a circular letter which
has been received by timber holders
in this city, the objects of the proposed
association will be to mold public
opinion along right lines. to secure the
enactment of proper protective laws
and the patrolling of forest lands by
the association to prevent fire and
trespass. The idea is in line with the
plan adopted by timber owners in
washington, Idaho and Montana for
the protection of the holdings, and is
recommended by the United States
forest service.
1t is believed that an organization of
this character, provided n large ma
iority of the timber owners are In
duced to become members. would ma
terially reduce the present annual loss
from forest fires in the upper penin-
sula. What could be accomplished OF
course. would depend largely upon the
size and personnel OF the member
ship. The association could work for
the enactment OF desirable laws. in
nuencc public sentiment in it's attitude
toward timber holders, insist upon
public officials doing their duty and
in other ways accomplish things that
could not be accomplished by any
individual or unorganized body of in
dividuals.
Suggested Plan Of Operation.
Mr.. Green's plan for protecting the
forests through the agency OF the or
ganization- would be to plat all the
lands of members in the association
anu pace lilt ltlu tAtNuNiNt "''N -
the hands of an employe, known as the
chief forest ranger. This official would
have power to hire deputies, at leas'
one for each county, with authority
10 increase the force whenever condi'
tions were particularly dangerous II
any mart or all parts of the district
These deputies could be shifted IRON
place to place. wherever the danger o.
fire was especially great. and natural
ly more would be employed in TN
summer than I'm the winter.
II is suggested that these rangers
could do the most effective work !
they were mounted, or travt "a iron
place to place with n horse and carr
Lookout stations might also be estap
llshed at high elevations, from whicl
the forests might be watched 10
miles distant, and as soon as nr
was noticed, men could be sen
promptly to extinguish il. BY mean
Of a regularly organized patrol II
thought that fires could usually b
taken in hand before they got beyon
control The cost of the service woul
be borne pro rata by the members O
the association.
AS an illustration of what might b
accomplished, IL is stated that In onto
nagon township. Ontonagon county
the loss from forest fires the past sum
mer was approximately 100000 an
that about $4,000 was expended
lighting these fires. whereas II 5000 ma
been expended in June in precaution
ary measures, the fires could In a
probability have been prevented aito
gether.