The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-09-29

Two or three men In one OF the
rangers cabins which have become
such an important adjunct OF forest
guardianship, are near the summit OF
some peak, from which a view can be
had over many miles of woodland.
In the early part of the year. be-
fore the rains cease and the ground
dries out. these rangers and wardens
are employed at ordinary duties
through the forest. repairing trails.
estabhshing telephone lines, watching
for careless campers and lumbermen.
cleaning up dangerous underbrush
and the like. AS the dry season adj
vunces and the conditions develop
that are especially favorable to for.
est fires. these men become the
"lookouts" Of the forest protection
force. Day and night they scan the
distant horizon with strong glasses.
for traces OF smoke or reflected
flames In the woods, from such an
eminence, n fire may be seen for
miles. and the first traces Of II may
be detected by these lookouts long
before IL would be observed from
rangers cabin much closer to the
scene
Men and Money Needed.
| II Is to cope with such conditions
that the forest service is asking for
more men and better organization OF
! the forests. At present the men on
the hilltop stations use methods rs
/ M tf,ni tbAgn ,NF J,I q.
! fash the news Of forest fire to dis.
| tant stations v ere help can be Sc
cured. Often there is no telephone
at the mountain lookout station: or
| no telephone connection to other
| points where rangers and fire ward
ems are supposed to be on duty.
Smoke signals such AS the Indians
used. made with blanket over
smoldering fire. or pillars OF smoke
or flame from n number of fires. con-
stitute tho methods OF communica.
ton used by many OF the forest ranger
stations. and with which all OF the
men In the woods are expected to be
familiar.
The heliograph, flashing the light
OF the sun; flag signals such as are
used in the army. and other systems
OF signaling, also are used In some
places where a small settlement ex-
lists near the fire lookout. 4 unique
means OF summoning aid is used. A
small windmill is erected at the look
out station, equipped with revolv-
ing ball in which mirrors are set at
every angle. The Waterman who dis.
covers traces OF a distant fire. sets
his windmill In motion II the day is
bright. and departs Mt once for tho
scene of the fire, secure in the knowl-
edge that the signal will call to his
aid every man who sees the flashing
mirrors.
To get rid of the fire causes IL the
first lesson taught the forest guard.
ians. and the end toward which the
forest service is constantly working.
The origins OF fires in the woods are
roughly classified as follows:
Sparks from locomotives, sparks
from sawmlls and donkey engines
used In forest operations, camp fires
not properly safeguarded or extin-
guished. the burning OF brush to clear
land. the burning OF grass to i'm
prove pasturage. carelessness OF
smokers and hunters. incendiarism
and lightning
From the last there can be little
protection except equipment to fight
the flames as soon as they make
their appearance. From every other
cause, however. the standing forests
Of America can be fairly well pro
tected with proper equipment and
funds.
Ways OF Fighting Blazes.
The firemen OF the woods learn
that the night is the best time for
progress OF the blaze. A fire that will
sweep ten or twelve miles in the day
time will eat It's way slowly at night,
when there is little breeze and the
air is heavy Then the fire fighters
attack il with all the energy they
possess. and often bring 1t within con.
troll.
The forest fire viii burn up hill with
such rapdlty that no strategy of the
fire fighters can cope with II. Sweep
ing from tho bottom Of canyon, or
the foot of hill. 1t rushes up the
slope like hot blaze up a chimney,
carrying the fire to the top In an in
credibly short time. Once at the sum-
NIT OF tho hill. the fire burns more
slowly descending the other side, and
the fire fighters have an opportunity
to dig trenches. cut fire lines and pre-
pare other defenses to head It OF and
stop II.
The source Of the greatest danger
to forests is the presence Of dry tops
and piles Of brush left by lumbermen
and By the windfalls of heavy storma