Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-10

Two or three msn In one OF tho
rangers cabins which have become
such an important Rdluno, OF forest
guardianship are near the summit OF
some peak. from which a view can DO
bad over many miles OF woodland
In tho 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 tho forest, repairing trails.
establishing telephone lines, watching
for careless campers and lumbermen.
cleaning up dangerous underbrush
and the IKE Az the dry season ad-
yances and the conditions develop
that are especially favorable 10 for.
est fires. these men become the
"lookouts" OF tho 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
omlnenoe. fire may be- seen for
miles. and the hrst traces OF II may
DO detected by these lookouts long
before T. would be observed from a
rangers cabin much closer 10 the
scene
Men and Money Needed.
n IA 70 cope with such conditions
that the forest service Is eBlllng for
more men and better organization OF
the forests A. present the men on
the hilltop stations use methods as
primitive a. those OF the Indians 10
Hash the news Of a forest FIRE 10 dis
tant stations whore help can be So
cured often there Is no telephone
At the mountain lookout station or
no telephone connection 10 other
points where rangers and fro ward.
ems are supposed 10 be on duty
Smoke signals such as the indians
used made with a blanket over
smoIdering fire, or pillars Of smoke
or fame from a number OF Ares, con.
sutute tho methods Of communica.
ton used by many Of the forest ranger
stations. aud with which all OF the
men in the woods are expected TO DO
familiar
The helioTaph. hashing tho light
OF tho sun. flag signals such as arc
used IN the army. and other systems
OF signaling also are used In some
places where a small settlement eH.
ists near tho nre lookout, unique
means OF BummOning aid IL used A
small windmill IL erected At the look.
out station. equipped with a revolv-
ing ball In which mirrors are act az
every angle. The watchman who dis.
covers traces Of distant hre sets
his windmill IN motion II the day is
bright and departs at once Tor the
6cene OF the Are. secure In the knowl.
edge that tho s!gnal will call 10 hts
aid every man who sees the flashing
mirrors
To get rld Of the fire. causes Is tho
first lesson taught tho forest guard.
fans 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 sOwmllls and donkey engines
rged in forest operations camp fires
not properly saieguarded or extln.
sulshod, the burning Of brush 10 clear
land. the burning Of grass to i'm.
prove pasturage carelessness OF
smokers and hunters. incendlarIsm
and lightning
From the last there can be little
protection except equipment 70 fight
the flames Rs soon as they make
their appearance From every other
cause. however the standing forests
Of America can bo fairly woll pro
tocted with proper equipment aud
funds
Ways OF Fighting BlaIeS
The Nromen Of tho woods learn
that the might 10 the best time for
tholr fight. Tho damp air retards Tho
progress " the blaze A nre that win
sweep ton or twelve miles IN the day.
time win eat lts way slowly ot night.
whom thero IS little breeze and tho
air Is heavy Then tho nro nghters
attack It with all the energy they
possesa, and often bring it within con.
troll
The forest fire will burn up hlll with
such rupldlty that no strategy OF tho
nro nghtors can cope with II sweep
lng from tho bottom Of canyon or
tho foot Of hill, Il rushes up tho
slope like a hot blaze up chimney.
carrying tho Are to the top In an In.
credlbly short time Once Mt tho sum.
NIT Of the HILL the Gre burns more
slowly descending the other side, and
the nre lighters have an opportunity
70 dig trenches. cut fire lines and pre-.
paro other defensos 10 head Il on and
stop g.
Tho source Of the greatest danger
20 forests ls the presence OF dry tops
and piles Of brush left by lumbormen
and by the windfalla Of heavy storma