Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-09-21
T|MBERMEN ARE LUCKY
NO FIRE LOSSES IN POLK COUN-
TY THE PAST SEASON.
Efficient Patrol Service Largely Re-
sponsible for Remarkable Condi-
tion-Many Acres Controlled.

Not single dollar was lost in Polk
county through forest fires this year,
according to the report Of the secre-
tary-treasurer and supervising war
den of the Polk County Fire Patrol
association, just prepared by W. v,
Fuller. The report concerns only those
timber lands patroled by the associa-
ton, but includes the major por-
ton, and the report is therefore con-
sidered as embracing the entire coun-
ty. There were a number of fires in
different parts of the territory during
the season of danger just passed, but
in each case the blaze was on cut
over land and perhaps did more good
than damage. The total cost of fire
fighting directed by the association
during the season was $175, which is
considered remarkably low in view Of
the weather conditions that have pre-
vailed throughout the summer. The
association has had ten wardens in
the field during most of the season.
and just last week called them in, it
being considered that the danger sea-
son was over. The wages Of these
wardens is an item of $1,000 on the
expense side of the association led
ger and the construction of telephone
extentions and equipment is an item
of 500. The United States forest SER
vice pays the salaries, under the terms
Of the Week s law, of two of the war
dens employed in this county. Mr..
Fuller is the active head of the organ
ization, being secretary-treasurer and
supervising warden, to which position
he was recently appointed. His sal
ary is largely paid by the state gov
ernment. The association has been in
existence three years and its work in
forest protection and fire fighting is
recognized as among the most effec-
tive of the many private patrol socie-
ties in the country. The patrol and
fire fighting work of the association
is ended for the present season, and
plans for the activities of the coming
year will be made at the annual meet
ing of the directors of the association
early in March, The force of war
dens' will be put into the field again
as soon as weather conditions de-
mand, or about June l, judging from
past years.
Under the direct control of the or
ganization are 100000 acres of the
choice timber lands, and to
create treasury these are assessed at
112 cents an acre, There are also
acres of 0. & C. grant lands in
the county which are patroled and
assessed by the association. The as
sessment on this land is paid by the |
United States forest service through |
the office of C. S. Chapman, manager
of the Oregon Forest Fire associa-
tion In addition to these lands the
controls about 10000
acres in the north part of the county |
which is very well patroled by the
J. C. Lacy company, whose timber
lands adjoin. By cooperating with
the Polk county organization a saw
ing is effected and the work done as
as the association itself
would do it. The Lacy company pa
trolls about $4,000 acres of its own
lands, and the company is not men,
ber of the association. The officers
and directors of the Polk County Fire
Patrol association are George 7. Ger
linger, president; W. T. Grier, vice.
W. V. Fuller, secretary
treasurer and supervising warden; B.
c. Miles, F. J. Cobb and John B.
Teal, directors.