The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-11-13

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city and admres 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 fire.
Compare this with the many obstacles with
which the forest fre-fghter has to contend.
Sometimes he is more than days journey from
the fire. He has limited and often inexperi-
enced crew to help him. He must travel on foot
or on horseback and he cannot lope along as
they do in the city parks-mountain trails are
not made for Looping horses. He must rely on
packhorses for conveying commissary supplies,
because 1t may mean many days of hard work
ahead Of him on the burning area Very often,
indeed, he must blaze his way number Of miles
through trailless wilderness, carrying his bed
and grub on his back and through a country
Where every step seems greater impeachment
to rapid progress; and when he reaches the fire
1t may be OF such proportions as to appall less
sturdy nature.
The rapidty with which fire can spread in the
mountains is almost unbelievable For instance,
in 1910, by the middle of August over 5000
small nres had been put out by patrolmen and
over 80 large ones had been brought under con.
troll by crews OF from Is to $50 men, And vet
when the cyclone of August 20 came, that work
was all undone SO quickly as to make one gasp
with wonder and awe. Within 48 hours strip
OF country more than 100 miles long and mora
still the fire was advancing. Against all this an
army OF moro than 5000 men fought persstentlv
and courageously and always in the face of over
whelning odds, yet never did they falter until
the rains
In passing, it s but fitting to give credit to the
brave men in the governments employ who
rlsked and lost their lives in earnest endeavor.
to carry out their duties, and many are the tales
OF herosm and unself1sh devotion during those
strenuous times, when men toiled and sweated
shoulder to shoulder.
Men can and will, in the course of time mako
ehort to reforest the great devastated areas hit
the scope OF years to carry out such work ia
broad indeed. Mans best work. now and for al.
ways, lies in the prevention of a recurrence ~
such calamties as have gone before Through
legislation man can compel the railroads to noe
contr1vances to prevent sparks from leaving tho
engines; he can educate campers into the neces.
slty for their cooperation in extiAguishing camn
nres "a truly little thing, yet big in results) and
exact severe penalty for failure to abide by the
law; ne can appropriate more money for i'm
provement and protection work to place tho for
ests under closer supervision and make then,
more accessible, so that the fires caused by iehA
ming, for instance, can be caught at their very
inception; but mostly he must enlist the co.
operation of all his fellowmen to helm in the
great work OF preserving and perpetuating tho
forests because they represent source NJ we,lth
and necessity and beauty, not to any single indi
vidual but one in which every member NJ orr
great country is, and always will be direct,v ~
indirectly participant even unto our cbildran.
children ad tpfpitum