Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-03-12
WEST VIRGINIA AND FEDERAL GOVERN
MENT TO COOPERATE TO PREVENT
AND CONTROL FOREST FIRES in OUR
STATE.

1t is very probable that one OF the greatest
destructive agents to our wild life is forest
fire, and while laws have been in effect for
many years prohibiting man from ruthlessly
destroying game and birds, yet action
was taken to prevent forest fires in state
until the year 1909. AT that time there was
included in the bill for the protection OF game,
the clause making all game Wardens ex-off1ci0
fire wardens, and directing them to use every
possible means TO extnguish all forest fires
which were reported to them. Actual figures
show that this law has saved over twenty mil
lions OF dollars to our state, during the past
four years, in INJURY to soil, timber, etc, and
this does not include the saving to our wild
life
When a forest fire RACES over community
ii kills the natural food of all wild animals
and birds, burns up their homes and haunts,
destroys birds nests and eggs, and often kills
thousands and even millions of young birds,
small animals, etc. In addition to all of these
distinctions it makes the water supply of our
streams very uncertain. BY destroying the
trees and brush which tend to hold the water
and make the flow even and thus causes many
streams to go dry at times, and at other times
overflow their banks, and thereby destroy
fish.
However, within the past six months the
State has secured the cooperation of the Fed
eral Government in protecting our forests from
these destructive fires, and contract has been
entered into whereby the State and Govern
snent are to spend not more than $5,00000 per
yeaT in this work. The contract also provides
that two or more There will be three accord
ing to present plans3 inspectors shall be fur
nished BY the State, at salary Of $500 per
month. with expenses and sixteen lookout
watubmen and patrolmen are to be furnished
BY the Federal Government during the dry
periods OF the year, each to receive not over
$3.50 per day while actually employed 1t is
the further duty Of the State to build lookout
stations on several Of the highest points in the
forest area Of the State to equip same with
telephone. field glasses plane tables, ETC.,
well as maps of the surrounding country show
ing location of all houses, telephones, roads,
ate. SO that the lookout watchmen who stay
at these stations may be able to discover all
fires within his territory, and then have ample
means to communicate with persons in the
vicinity Of the fire, and thus have same ex-
tinguished before 1t does much damage. The
duty of the pafrolmen shall be to go over
tain routes each day and keep a close lookout
for fires, and to instruct all people as how
best to prevent them. 1t is the duty of the
Inspectors TO that all Of these men stay
duty and to see that telephone lines in
working order, etc.
Many lumber companies, railroads, and 9th
er industries are Eo-opeeating with the State
in providing extraI lookout watchmen. stations
and pat~olmen, ana enthusiastic meeting of
representatives of many such interests was
held at Elkins on February 10th, and all
agreed to adopt methods to raise money and
help in other ways in this work 1t Is planned
to assess each cumberland owner so much per