St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-26

to keep them from going to complete
destruction. This neglect is perhaps
due to the fact that the supervision
of the state roads is in the hands of
the governor and council and they
have only just completed their inspec-
ton of these roads to familarize
themselves with existing conditions.
BY the time they acquire a little
knowledge of the subject of road
building, their term of Office will be
over, and new set of men will char
ter automobiles, and go through
another farce of inspecting the state
roads. And perhaps by IEat time,
the million dollars will have been all
expended, and the roaas constructed
will have gone entirely to pieces, so
that New Hampshire can start all
over again with permanent high
way commission, or even a single
highway commissioner, who will
know what he is doing and have some
means to keep the roads which he
builds from going to destruction
LLaconia Democrat.
Guarding Against Forest Fires.
Henry S. Graves, chief forester of
the United States, says that while
much has been done in cooperation
with the government in the matter
of fire protection by the states and
by some large timberland owners, the
work has only just been begun. Fire
patrol is absolutely necessary in pre-
venting forest fires, and in the ma
tional forests this is provided for.
Each one of these forests is divided
into districts, and each district is in
charge of forest ranger. During
the dry season these forces are sup
plemented by temp orary guards who
patrol the forests. OF the general
situation Mr.. Graves says:
There are a great many states
which have not as yet undertaken to
meet the great question of forest
fires and a good many states, which,
while they have recognized the prob
lem by having system of fire war
dens to fight forest fires, have not yet
undertaken to prevent them. A great
many of the private owners are not
doing what they ought to do in the
way of fire protection. What we
need now is a much greater activity
on the part of the states in organized
fire protection. This usually requires
both legislation and appropriations
by the states. It will never be pos
sible to protect our forests until the
people are willing 10 meet the COST
It costs money to protect property in
the city. 1t costs money to protect
forests from fire. The problem is en-
tirely possible of solution
Carelessness on the part of fisher
men and hunters is the most fire.
quent source of forest fires. Electri-
cal storms have been known to start
fires, and an old tree struck by light
ming may smolder for week before
breaking out. Many fires are start
ed by sparks from locomotives. The
general plan of the forestry service
is to prevent fires, and all of them,
with one ception-lightni
be prevented. If the railroad COM
panies would provide their engines
with spark arresters, as a good many
do, or burn oil, practically all rail-
road fires can be eliminated. AS for
the rest:
Fires from carelessness ON the
part of settlers, hunters and fisher |
men can only be eliminated by edu-
cation. You have got to show the |
people the dangers Of forest fires, and |
it will take some time to educate
them along this line. Settlers, in