The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-08

made by the government and will
thereby add to the revenue.
The New Forest Patrol.
The forestry men tell me that the
work of patroiling Uncle Sans woods
is being rapidly extended. and espe-
cially since the terrible fires of last
year. So far about five thousand miles
OF roads and sixteen thousand miles OF
trails have been cut. Fire lines are
being built and system of telephone
lines has been put up. connecting the
ranger headquarters with tho lookou.
sta tons. & ttsr5ilss
Each OF the forests is divided up
into districts about six miiss square,
and every district is in charge OF IA
ranger who goes to his post In May
and stays until the rains besln in oc-
tober. These rangers carry their own
supplies. comprising Il tent, rifle and
plenty OF ammunition and food. At
present there are about twelve hun
dred men who act as rangers, and there
are forest guards numbering $50.
There are also hunters and trappers
making altogether a corps of about
twenty five hundred men in active
charge Of the national forests In ad .
dition. there are something like 500
scientists and clerks, who are en-
ployed here in Washington and at the
district headquarters.
The number of men in charge of the
forests should be Increased. As 1t is
now there Is only one man for every
hundred thousand acres, whereas Prus-
STA keeps a man for every seventeen
hundred acres, and Baden one for every
seven hundred and nifty acres
Twenty-Five Million Dollars In Smoke.
The lack Of men was evident in the
fires OF last year. They occurred at the
end of the drought, beginning in June
and reaching their climax in August
Congress had appropriated $780, for
protecting the woods. but this was not
enough, and although the War Depart
ment aided by sending troops, and the
railroad companies, lumber companies
ana private individuals also co-opar-
ated, the fires spread over an area or
more than Saree million acres and
killed something like seven billion feet
or merchantable timber. The damages
are said TO have been over twenty-five
million dollars and the costs of tight
Ing tho fires were little more than
a million.
Altogether there were 1000 different
hres in the national forests last wear,
ana most OF them were extinguished by
the forest rangers. The greatest fire
occurred in Northern Idaho, where
within twenty-four hours after start
ing there were practically continuous
flames for over 100 miles In these
hres seVenty-six OF the officials of the
forestry service We're killed and a
large number injured. Some OF the
hres camc from lightning. others from
eamphres and some from the locomo-
yves OF the trains which vent through
the woods.
Uncle Sam, Lumberman.
uncle Sam Is now cutting consider
able lumber In tho national forests
me amount cut last year was more
IMAM 4o0.o0o.ooo feet, board measure
much of 1t being sold on the stump nj
*2.t4 per thousand. Such receipts are
rapidly approximating $4,000, 900 per an
mum, and they promise to bo one OF
the come-bring.ng branches. of the
government. Nearly all the great ma
tions OF Europe arc now making money
out of their State forests In France
the lumber sold brings In. S., 200 600 a
year and In Austria the receipts are
sun greater, The forests OF India are
under government control and are
yielding about $4,000. 900 per annun.
while wide-awake little Japan Is get.
ting sS.0O0.0o0 each year from the wood
sold by the government.
But 1t Is not alone In the lumber sold
that the Forestry Bureau is saving us
money The flres of 1910 would hava
caused an incaIculabie loss had 1t not
been for the rangers and the organized
system OF fire protection.
Indeed 1t is estimated that the for
estry service is worth to the govern.
mont Mt least s75.00o,0oo a year, or
this about ono-third comes from the
Improvement OF tho woodlands, another
third from the saving OF young trees
and prevention OF fires. 100000 from
the improved forest methods which are
being spread to the timber lands out
side national ownership; and also other
Items. which make UP the total of s75..
100000.
Copyright. 1911, by Frank q. carpen-
ter.)