Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-11-14
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citv and admires the fearless and systematic
work of the fremen fighting to Subdue the
flames Here they are but minutes away from
the source of the fire, with speedy conveyances
for reaching it and every possible assistance OF
human ingenuity to control the ire
Compare this with the many obstacles with
which the forest fire-fghter has to contend.
Sometimes he is more than days journey from
the fire. He has limited and often lnexperl-
enced crew to help him. He must travel on foot
or on horseback, and he cannot lope along as
they do in the city Professionalism trails are
not made for Looping horses. He must rely on
packhorses for eying commissary supplies,
because it may mean many days of hard work
ahead of him on the burning Very often,
indeed he must blaze his way number of miles
through a trailless wilderness, carrying his bed
and grub on his back and through country
where every step seems a greater impeachment
to rapid progress; and when he reaches the fire
it may be of such proportions to appall less
sturdy nature.
The rapidity with which fire can spread in the
mountains is almost unbelievable For instance,
in 1910, by the middle of August 5000
small fires had been put out by patrolmen and
over 80 large ones had been brought under con-
troll by crews of from rs to $50 men. And yet,
when the cyclone of August 20 came, that work
was all undone quickly to make one gasp
with wonder and awe Within As hours a strip
of country more than 100 miles long and more
still the fire was advancing. Against all this an
army of more than 5000 fought persistently
and courageously and always in the face of over
whelming Odds yet never did they falter until
the rains came.
In passing, it Is but fitting to give credit to the
brave men in the governments employ who
risked and lost their lives in earnest endeavors
to carry out their duties, and many are the tales
of heroism and unselfsh devotion during those
strenuous times, wheii men toiled and sweated
shoulder to shoulder.
Men can and WILL In the course of time make
effort to reforest the great devastated areas, but
the scope of years to carry cat such work is
broad indeed. Mans best work, now and for al
ways lies in the prevention of recurrence of
such calamities have gone before. Through
legislation man compel the railroads to use
contrivances to prevent sparks from leaving the
engines; he can educate campers into the neces-
sity for their cooperation in extinguishing camp
fires Ca truly little thing, yet big in results) and
exact severe penalty for failure to abide by the
law; he appropriate more money for i'm.
provement and protection work to place the for
ests under closer supervision and make them
more accessible, SO that the fires caused by light
inception: but mostly he must enlist the CO.
operation of all his fellowmen to help in the
great work OF preserving and perpetuating the
forests because they represent a source of wealth
and necessity and beauty, not to any single indi-
vdual, but one in which every member of our
great country is, and always will be- directly or
indirectly, participant, even unto our chidren,e
children, ad infnitum.