The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-11-15

~ Il
CITY and admfres the fearless and systematic
work OF the fremen fighting to subdue the
flames. Here they are but minutes away from
the of the fire, with speedy conveyances
for reaching 1t and every possible assistance Of
human ingenuity to control the fire.
Compare this with the many obstacles with
which the forest hre-hghter has to contend.
Sometimes he is more than days journey from
the fire. He has limited and often nexperi-
enced crew to help him. He must travel on foot
horseback, and he cannot lope along as
they do in the city parks-mountan trails are
not made for Looping horses. He must rely on
packhorses for conveying commissary supplies,
because it may mean many days OF hard work
ahead Of him the burning area. Very often
indeed. he must blaze his way a number Of miles
through trailless wilderness. carrying his bed
and grub on his back, and through a country
where every step seems greater impediment
to rapid progress; and when he reaches the fire
1t may be Of such proportions as to appall a 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 over 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 SO quickly make one gasp
with wonder and awe. Within 4s hours a strip
OF country more than 100 miles long and more
than 25 miles wide had been burned over And
still the fire was advancing Against all this an
army OF more tnan S,UOU men fought perSisteptly
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 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. when 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 out such work in
broad indeed. Mans best work. now and for A.
ways, lies in the prevention OF a recurrence OF
such calamities as have gene 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 "a 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.
ming, for instance can be caught at their very
inception; but mostly, he must enlist the CO.
operation Of all his fellowmen to help in tho
great work OF preserving and perpetuating the
forests because they represent a source of wealth
and necessity and beauty. not to any single indi-
vidual. but one in which every member of our
great country Il. and always will be- directly or
indirectly participant, even unto our children
children. I'd in0nitum.