The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-02-08

the Oil fires classed as unknown"
should be attributed to campers, hunt
ers and loggers who make practice
Of smoking in the woods. The burning
of slashings during the closed season
together with inefficient patrol of
slashings fired prior to the closed sea
son resulted in the escape of 81 fires
and the destruction of timber and mill
property to the value of about $35, 900.
During the past season total of 600
State Fire Wardens were appointed by
the State Forester. OF this number
23 were county supervising wardens
in the employ of the State Forester's
office; three were selected and paid by
the counties in which they served; 80
were appointed by and served under
the direction of the State Forester but
were paid from the federal appropria-
tion secured under section of the
Weeks Law; 1879 were patrolmen
in the employ of private owners
III were officials of the United States
Forest Service employed on the Ma
tional Forests; and l73 were public
spirited citizens who accepted appoint
ment without remuneration.
The county supervising wardens were
appointed upon the recommendation of
timber owners of the counties that
contained timber In sufficient quantity
to warrant such appointment. Twen-
ty-three wardens of this grade were
employed.
In Oregon as in other states with
new and untried forest laws enforce
ment has been no easy task. Numer-
Gus cases have been brought the past
summer for violation of the law
and the records show that a consider
able percentage of these failed of sue
cessful issue. The reasons for this are
principally unfamiliartiy with the pro-
visions of the law on the part of
judges, district attorneys and magis-
trates. and in some cases lack of
knowledge on the part of State forest
officials as will allow of their collecting
the most convincing evidence and pre-
senting the case In the clearest manner
to prosecuting officials. To this must
be added the fact that it has been the
aim of the State Forester's office to
use the law fully as much to prevent
otfenses as to punish them after commit
ted This is viewpoint it seems
difficult to convey to prosecuting off
GERS generally. A few wholesome
examples of punishment for violation
of the provisions of the law even
where no actual damage to property
resulted, would go far toward prevent
| ing the recurrence of such offenses,
but cases where presented have in
many instances failed to receive the
attention they deserved. Until district
attorneys, grand juries and magistrates
take the point of view that simple
violation of the law even though it
results in no damage is punishable, the
| law will fail of one of its principal
aims and fall short of what was in
tended by both those who framed it
and those who put II into effect. There
being provision for recovery through
civil suit of damages sustained through
fire. we must look upon the forest law
proper as being most important as a
weapon to prevent carelessness and
righteousness, and a wide field of use
fullness is open along this line of
prosecuting officers will cooperate to
bring about the desired results.
From the experience of the past
summer it is believed that most salts
factory results will obtain if expert
assistance, both in the collection of
evidence and in the prosecution of
cases, is furnished by the State For.
ester's office. 1t is believed that such
assistance will be welcomed by district
attorneys and magistrates whom this
section in no way desires to criticise
but who, because of their multitudinous
duties and responsibilities. cannot be