Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-05-18
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE|
PROTECTING OUR FORESTS.
Oregon's Four Hundred Billion Feet
of Timber Worth Saving.

Oregon's Four Hundred Billion Feet
of Timber Worth Saving.
By G. W, Peavy, Professor of Forestry, 0. A. C.
By the passage of a carefully pre-
pared forestry law, backed by an ade-
quate appropriation, the last legisla-
ture of Oregon took the first effec-
tive step for the preservation of one
of the states largest natural re-
sources. According to the old saw,
cit is the wise man who locks the Fsta-
BILE before the horses are stolen" 1t
is quite evident from the great losses
of the past few years that Oregon
cannot claim credit for having acted
to the fullest degree the part of the
wise man in the matter of guarding
her timber yet there is still some
stock in the stable which is we'll worth
protecting.
A conservative estimate places the
timber resources of Oregon at 400 bill
lion feet board measure of merchanta-
BILE timber. About one third of this
amount is within the national forests.
The remaining two-thirds is in private
holdings. The state holds practically
no stumpage, having sold nearly all of
its grant lands. Figured on the basis
of $3.50 per thousand feet board
measure the stumpage of the state
represents property valued at $780,
900, 900. Estimated on the basis of a
manufactured value of S12 per thous-
and feet, the timber in the state has a
value equal to 81, 800, 900, 900.
When it is understood that the tim
Der supply of other parts of the coun-
try is being rapidly exhausted and
that as result there will soon be
vastly greater demands made upon the
timber suppy Of the Northwest it is
very certain that the figures quoted
above do not fully represent the eco
nomic Importance of the forest crop to
the state.
To any one who has seen forest
fire in action it is very clear that the
Individual is powerless against it.
Organized effort is necessary in order
to combat it successfully. This or
ganizatiOn should be in the hands of
the state. 1t is true that many or
ganizations for preventing and fight
ing forest fires exist among the coun-
ties and the timber owners of the
state, but at the same time central
organization is necessary to give
head to the whole system. That is
just what the forestry law passed by
the last legislature does. 1t binds to-
gether all agencies within the state
for effectively preventing and fighting
forest fires. 1t makes it certain that
the small timber owner and the
rancher will each receive the same
consideration from the state as does
the larger timber holder.
Under the provisions Of the forestry
law the state forester is empowered to
require timber owners to burn slash
or debris whenever, in his judgment it
is menace to adjoining property.
Fire wardens will be appointed who
will be peace officers, with power to
arrest for any violation of the forest
laws.
The period between June 1st and
October 1st Is declared to be a closed |
season, during which it is unlawful to
set out fire in any slashing, woodland, |
or brush land without written permis-
sion from fire warden. This provis-
ion of the law does not apply to burn
ing brush heaps, log piles or stumps |
in small quantities and under close
supervision. However, if fire should |
get away when burning of this char
acter is done without permission, and
damage results, the one setting the
fire is regarded as guilty under this
act, and is subject to a fine of not |
more than $500 or to Imprisonment for
a term not to exceed three months.
The same penalty applies to those
who build camp fires without clear
ing the ground properly or who leave
camp fires burning or unmatched and
who permit camp fires to spread.
During the closed season all engines
of whatever character, which are
operated in the vicinity of forests,
must be equipped with effective spark
arresters.
These are some of the general pro-
visions of the law. The complete act
can be had by writing to the state
forester at Salem. The whole intent
of the law is to protect a resource
which is Of immense value to all the
people of the state.
County Fair Arranged.