East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-09
FOREST FIRE INSURANCE
CONTINUED from page one.)

%'N"I 10y bOpup iiiNiNSt iOl iiit SOiiiO
to the kernel of this nut. They say
an ounce of prevention Is worth
pound of cure; therefore, favor
something that will prevent forest
fires. After some careful personal OBJ
servatlons, a careful study of the
question, and after obtaining the ex-
periences of the pioneers of the west
ern forests, have come to the definite
conclusion that the only successful
prevention of future big uncontroll-
able fires in our forests is grazing of
livestock therein to the full capacity;
and especially by sheep.
The vital question is-how will
sheep prevent fires.
The answer Is short and decisive.
Forest fires are usually started by
inexperienced campers who have no
interests in conservation and small
regard whether a forest fire is started
or not, or else do not realize how a
small insignificant campfire may get
away and destroy thousands of acres
OF timber worth millions of dollars.
Lightning is often the cause of for
est fires, which Is completely beyond
human control
Combustible Agents.
The accumulation of two or three
years growth OF grass weeds and un-
derbrush produces a highly combust-
ible agent. ideal for spreading rapidly
a small camp or lightning fire: in a
short time this Insignificant campfire
is beyond human control. sweeping
forests. farms and all animal life be-
fore 1t. The grass Is not only burned
but the big trees are destroyed also.
1t requires some highly inflammable
agent, such as this, to spread a fire
through the actual trees and timber
itself. Without 1t, the spread and ex-
pansion of fire is impossible.
Put a band OF ewes to foraglng on
these forest areas and they will keep
down this rank growth of weeds. grass
and underbrush. absolutely taking
away the necessary and only agent,
thus making big forest fires such as
We had last year impossible and with
out materially injuring the trees and
growing timber. These woods, grass
and underbrush were not intended by
the Creator for posterity but for the
present use OF struggling humanity.
Then why not by all means to save
our forests and foster an important
industry. encourage sheep grazing
thereon, instead OF restricting and pre-
venting It.
The history Of the past thirty years
bears out my statements. Smythe
0Hn - htal. avn hnr-
lease some fifty-thousand acres Of for
est lands owned and controlled by
several timber companies. These
lands are adjacent to and in fact ex-
tend into the Whitman national forest
in oregon: We rent these lands for our
sheep during the summer months: the
managers and owners OF these timber
companies have repeatedly said to me:
"Mr. Smythe, IL we could not get you
sheepmen to fairly jump over each
other in an endeavor to pay us rem
tai for our timber lands, we would
gladly come to you and offer a goodly
sum that your sheep might go upon
our lands in the summer and Craze
them to their full capacity. 1t Is the
only practical insurance we have
against forest fires" They do not in
any manner restrict or prevent the
amout of sheep grazing on these
lands. / understand that all timber
companies in the west rent the graz
ing of their lands to stockmen. 1t is
the only practical and successful in
surance they have. It is needless to
say forest fires on these lands are
rare.
Example In Washington.
Mr.. Thomas Mckenzie. chief of
grazing in this district. cites an in
stance last summer on the Colville
national forest in the state of WASH
ington There were two similar areas
in this forest not far from each other,
both having about equal timber. grass
and underbrush thereon and the gen.
eral lay OF the swamps, hills and
streams being similar. on one of
these was regularly grazed band of
sheep: the other had not been grazed.
Forest fires started las, summer on
both. on the one where sheep were
grazed It was easily checked and con-
trolled and no damage was done to
the timber. The fires on the other
were not able to get under control un-
til they had burned over 100000 acres
of forest land and destroyed much
excellent timber. The Colville super
visor believes in sheep grazing to pro-
tect his forest.
know of many similar instances
but lack OF time prevents me from re-
lating them here today. / am happy
to note that many fair minded forest
ers who have had occasion to observe
actual western conditions, taken from
experience, realize the Importance of
livestock grazing as forest fire pre-
vention.
Best of all. history, actual applica-
ton and observation during the past
twenty-five years proves the statement
that livestock grazing is the most prac-
tical and successful forest fire insur-
ance.
A few days ago, wrote hundred
letters to the leading most prominent
experienced, capable, FAIR and honest
stockmen who have directly seen and
observed personally western forests
with sheep grazing and without graz
ing and noticed the fires which have
occurred on these forests for the pas
fifteen to thirty years. The majority
have replied and they unanimously
bear me out and substantiate my
statements. The argument Is so de-
q, II hxy