The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-05
Protection
BILL OBEPASSED
Lawmakers Are Now Con-
sidering a Measure Of
This Kind.

|Na. La3.lHalH L..Y.. ..H.... I'D. "
CHARLESTON, W. Va. Feb. g.
Pronting by the experience of other
states and by the lessons learned in
this state during the last two years,
West Virginia seems likely to perfect
its system of forest protection and
conservation. so as to preserve from
further destruction, one of Its most
valuable resources-its forests OF fine.
timber. Impetus was given to the
move at the outset OF the present ses.
sion of the legislature by the governor
Of the state In his biennial message
to the law.making body in which he
set forth the fact that the forest
area Of West Virgln!I had been re.
duced from fifteen and three.fourths
millions Of forest acreage to less than
one and a half millions and It would
be absolutely necessary for the legis.
lature to take steps TO strengthen the
laws of the state SO as to better pro-
tect the forests. In one year in West
Virginia the loss from forest fire was
S5,997,525.00. Since that time during
the operation of a law destined to af-
ford better protection the loss has
been only one.tenth. but this has been
partly accomplished through the ef.
forts of the Central West Virginia
Fire Protection Association who with
their own funds have ~co-operated with
the federal and state governments in.
establishing a system of patrol which
covers more than thirteen counties.
The federal government Is ready to.
cooperate with West Virginia in all
measures looking to the better protec.
tion Of West Virginia forests but in
order to make such cooperation pos.
sible It will be necessary for the legis-
lature TO take the proper steps to.
ward enacting laws which embody ad.
yanced thought. on this subject.
In conformity with the governors
recommendations and responsive to
an increasing public sentiment for
better forest laws the Hon. Geo. d.
Thompson, Of Tucker county, a prac-
tical lumber operator Of long exper'
fence has introduced a bill in the
house of delegates in which are in
corporated numerous provisions which
will make a fire protection system in
West Virginia most effective. The
passage of the. Thompson bill depends
to a great extent upon the public SEN
.iment which exists for such a meas
ure. In the. past the indifference of
the public to the great loss being sus-
tanned by the state through forest
fires and the same indifferences to.
ward any proposed legislation to o r
rect such a state of affairs has re-
tarded the development OF a proper
fire fighting system either through
the enactment of laws or in other
ways? The public has never seemed
fully to realize until within the last
few years Just what the fires which
ragged every year meant in the loss
Of valuables, values forever destroyed,
but with q realization OF that loss and
an appreciation Of what has been
done on a small scale toward better
forest protection, sentiment has been
awakened to a very great extent. II
such sentiment makes itself felt at
tho present session of the legislature,
tho state will be In q position to pre-.
serve and encourage a very import
ant industry and to prevent the Q
truction of a very important resource.
E%xnerience having shown that the
penalty for deliberately and willfully
setting out fires is net severe enough
the Thompson bill will make 1t a fell
ony to start such fires which after.
wards spread and entail large losses.
AS a further move toward strength:
ening the Law the Thompson bill Will
place the protection Of the forests IN
the hands Of a forester who shall be
appointed for his fitness, education
kand training and INTO because OF any
political influence and to him will be
entrusted the organization for over
coming fire losses.
Practically every other state in the
union has adopted some method OF
dealing with forest fires. Some
through politics have seen their for.
est protection destroyed but as the
| forests become scarcer and scarcer.
other states have adopted methods OF
preserving resources which In a few
years will have been exhausted. West
Virginia with limited means. has done
something toward remedying the laxi;
ty Of the past but there is still much
to be done, IL the forests and the soil