East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-06-25
FOREST PROTECTION NORTHWEST LOANS
Portland Forester of Western Forestry and
Association Convention

on their investment, is to take
course unknown in any other line of
business. In other lines, the proprie-
tor protects himself and his credi-
tors by insurance and every addit-
almost never is his property so
peculiarly exposed to fire. Conse-
quently the timber owner, although
he could not insure, begins to protect,
The first step was patrol. The
best way to prevent fire is to pre-
vent it, not to fight it after it starts
Any other system is like lowering the
life boat after the ship has struck.
One patrolman can put out a humid
red incipient fires cheaper than a
hundred men can fight one real fire.
and the timber is saved besides.
Naturally the next step is cooper
alton. If one man can patrol the
buildings of two or more owners, it
is cheaper to hire him Jointly than
To maintain several men independ-
emily.
In Idaho and Washington they
soon went farther yet and formed
cooperative associations, assessing
the members upon their acreage. A
! few years experience taught that this
brought great advantages beyond
mere economy. It furnished means
OF bringing in the nonresident own
I er who could no nothing otherwise,
/ the progressive owner who
would not, and the small owner who
could not afford to hire a man at
all. 1t resulted in training an effici-
ent force of men working harmoni-
ously, and in simplifying having them
authorized and backed to some ex-
tent by the state. In short 1t afford
ed Just the same advantages for Off
cering that a city fire department
does over any protection which could
he maintained Independently by each
city property owner.
But even more important still, the
association began to influence public
sentiment. Being semi-public and
broad in it's field. It was not subject
to the prejudice which the individual
timber owner may encounter. BY af-
fording means of advertising the
sums spent in protecting great pub
lie resource. it put its supporters in
Il strong position to ask for reciprocal
help. Legislatures soon appropriat-
ed for state assistance. Railroad COM
panies were reached and made to be
more careful with fire. Careless
lumbermen were forced to stop set
ting bad example and warranting
charges of reckless vandalism.
The result has been that in Wash
ington, for example, at a cost of less
than a cent and half an acre,
nearly three million acres belonging
IT, association members, with about
five million acres more which did not
pay but had to be patrolled with the
rest, was brought through a very dry
year with but 1900 acres loss; about
fiftieth of one per cent. Over 1900
fires were put out and not 6 reached
any importance. Idaho shows the
same record.
Now we are trying to do the same
thing in this state. Oregon is be-
hind the rest of the northwest In this
work. Its legislature appropriates
only $3.50 a year for fire protection
against Washingtons $4,000. 1t has
great many progressive timber
owners. They spent $4,000 on patro
last year. But in some cases this
came to s. or cents an acre be.
J cause others did nothing. We have
J too many owners who do nothing be
cause they think their neighbors
must protect them anyway. We have
organized several associations bu
: find difficulty in getting this class tC