West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-06-18
To Save Our Forests

sociation with n view OF reaching the school
children OF the state
The West Virginia Forestry Association
recognizes its merits and considers 1t one
of the simplest and trucst articles ON the
conservation OF the forests that has an
peared in long time. Il is most heartily
recommended for the careful consideration
of not only the school children, but of all
others, and IL is hoped that its warnings
and suggestions will bc needed by tcacher,
and parents throughout the state.
We must have woods and forests, aud
those who follow us will need them NOR,
than we do. Without timber and lis
products, life would bc harder for every
one. Without tircwood, there would hc
great suffering whore coal cannot he had.
The very paper ON which this is printed
IL made from wood. The chairs we sit
on, the toys the children play with, and
very many things needed in daily life, are
made OF wood. You do not live II single
day without the use of wood. Ii il as
great wrong To set fire to the woods, or
To permit them TO burn, as il is To SGT fire
to n building and permit il to burn. In
some respects it is greater wrong, for
a building can bc renewed i'm short
time, but IL requires n great many years
to grow forest.
When fire runs through the woods
practically all the young trees are killed,
| and all, or most of the older ones are
greatly injured or destroyed So, also, are
| destroyed all the live seeds and nuts i'm
and on the ground, all the laurel and
| berry plants. all the food for the squirrels
and chipmunks, all the bird.ncsts and
their eggs and the young birds. The
forest Is dead. The animals are gone.
IL there is n good covering OF leaves on
forest ground, the soil seldom freezes
solidly in winter. Therefore the rainfall
and melting snow soak into the ground
and the water is saved to keep the
springs and streams going In the open,
the ground freezes hard and the water all
runs off. II forest fires have burned away
the leaves in the woods the ground freezes
there also and much OF the water runs oil
Forest trees, through their leaves, give
of vast volumes OF moisture which temper
our climate, and help to prevent the wilt
ing OF our crops.
Brush fires on timber land from which
the trees have been cut destroy the land.
This land il its woods.soil, also called
! 'humus," or mould" is not DESTROYED
by fire, should be re-forestcd or used for
| laN linn. n a.
thousands OF acres of such land in West
Virginia constantly growing poorer
through brush fires instead Of growing
wood and furnishing homes for our
people. Further, brush fires are prevent
ing growth Of new forests on 3 900, 600
more acres which are only adapted to
grow timber. There are places in Europe
and Asia where the soil has not come
back in thousand years after fire and
washing away of the soil. 1t will never
come back.
Burning the woods prevents water
storage. From the water stored in the
woods during the winter, many OF our
| springs, creeks and rivers are kept How
ing during the summer and in times OF
drought.
Forest fires are prcvcntablo. We must
keep them from starting and put them
out when started. IL will cost less money
TO prevent fires in the woods than to put
them out. Timber aavcd is clear gain
Anyone who carelcssy or on purpose
starts fire i'm the woods becomes a public
enemy. Anyone who puts ont forest
fire is doing good TO the state.
| Without forests 10 cut, We shall have
no lumber to usc or 20 sell. Many lumber
towns have simply "dried up and some
localities are losing population because
the hills are bare. II we cut trees az they
are cut in Germany, so that one crop
follows another, then We shall always
have our woods. We must treat our
woods and forests az wc treat our best
farms.
live use only the crop Of grownup trees
as we usc the ripcncd crops Of wheat and
corn, they become n permanent invest.
mont
What can you do 10 help? It is the
duty Of every one, young or old, not only
90 be careful with fire, but also 90 teach
other people how important il is to be
careful School pupils can do more than
any other class because there are 20 many
of them. They can show this article "a
their parents and friends, and ask them
10 help. II every school child in the
land enlsts now, i'm the war against forest
fires the burning OF our woods will 4oon
stop
Never toss away burning matches, or
anything else with fire about &c.
Never start fire iu the woods against
any tree, whether it be- dead or alive.
Meyer start fire in the moss or peat oI
dry log. Il may smouldcr for days
and 40 last break out in open flame.
Never leave fire until it is surely out
Never start 10 burn brush or stumps in
clearing in a dry time, or on winds
day and never leave fire burning in
clearing stay with it until the IRE i
completely out.
locomotive which throws out sparks
or drops live Goals along the track, MAJ
start bad fire. Take the number OF On,
locomotive which does these things an,
send it to the Division superintendent
IGe will probably thank you for the in
formation.
Just one match. one smoke, one liv
coal, ono spark, one careless fool an