Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-04-18
NEED OF PROTECTION FOR TIM
BER OF POLK COUNTY rs
CALLED TO ATTENTION
BY DALLAS MAN.
OWNERS MUST CONTRIBUTE
New Law Makes Patrol Work Obli-
gatory; Assessment Stands Against
Lands Unless Law is Complied
With; w. v. Fuller Tells of Con-
ditions in Polk County.

NdlllllS dIIcltlOll W IHe udHSei
from fire which is a constant menace
to the timber wealth of Polk county,
explaining the workings of the new
fire patrol law passed by the recent
legislature and urging the people
generally to cooperate with the su-
pervising warden and his assistants,
w. V. Fuller, of this city, a timber
man Of many years experience and
who is thoroughly familiar with con
ditions, has made the following
Statement to The Observer, which
will be of interest to people gener-
ally:
81 have just finished the work
Of furnishing the State Forester, F.
A. Elliott, with a list of all the tim
Der owners of Polk county, together
with the amount of land owned by
each person or firm, and also their
ADDRESS," said Mr.. Fuller. "Each
timber holder will in the near future
receive notice from the State For
ester, advising them ito at once be-
come members of the Polk County
Fire Patrol association. The effect
of not complying with this request
from the State Forester, will be that
an assessment will be made against
such lands, of somewhere from two
and one-half to five cents per acre.
This assessment will be charged by
the county assessor and will be col
lected by the sheriff, the same as
other taxes are collected. Any one
wishing to join the association can
do so by notifying the Supervising
Warden, Frank Hayden, Falls City.
Optional Heretofore.
= Heretofore it has been optional
with the timber owners, whether they
their share of the expen-
ses of the supervising warden in pa
trolling Polk county timber lands, but
now every one must contribute, eth
er directly or by having the amount
assessed against their lands.
The names of the firms who last
year contributed to the Polk County |
Fire association are as follows: 0. |
& c. Railroad company; The Chas
K. Spaulding Logging company, W.
w. Mitchell. "Trustee;" The Will
annette Valley Lumber company,
(the Gerlinger interests Falls City
Lumber company; Sheridan Lumber
company; Great Western Timber
company; Buckeye Timber company;
and the Weyerhaueser Timber com
pany. This year several other small
sr holders have joined the assOcia-
lion.
Cost Uncertain.
cit is impossible to say just what
i will cost to adequately patrol the
Polk county timber lands, it will all
lepend on the season. The season of
1912 was a very favorable one. fire.
luent rains kept the woods damp,
therefore, Supervising Warden Hay
len employed only few men to as
iist in the work. The season of 1913
nav be far different, the weather
nav be very dry and it may be nee
sssary to put on several additional
besides the possibility of
iaving to hire crews of men to fight
ire. However we may rest assured
hat under the able management of
frank Hayden as supervising warden.
hat the expenses will be kept down
Is low as possible consistent with
'urnishing an adequate fire patrol.
North Part Protected.
''In the north part of the county, {
he firm of Riley & Niblaek own 21,-
l45 acres. This firm is patroling that
'art of the county in a very thorough .
nanner, having built many miles Of
pod horse trails through their tam I
81, besides establishing telephone I
tations on "lOok out" points and !
Ding everything possible to reduce ,
he fire hazard. The State Forestry /
bard. through its Chief Forester. F. ;
y Elliott. has the matter well in
and and Is assisting In the work. I
he county court has set aside mon {
- to be used under the supervision !
f Mr.. Hayden and myself to build ]
rails in different parts Of the eoun- {
y, to the end that men. supplies and [
ools can be quickly gotten into the
'oOds to subdue forest fires. and Of c
n amount 50 expended. the state c
ays twenty-five per cent. c
Must Take No Chances. &
Heretofore the people were wont I
b trust to providence and the Ore 1
. climate to protect their timber. B
L