The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-02-07
WEST VIRGINIA
Will |. | PROFIT
B|YE.|k.P|ER||E|''NC|E
of Other States and is Likelyito
Perfect a System Of For
est Protection.

sIt- 49, a.
s,sss
CHARLESTON, VIVA Feb. e.
Profiting 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
It's system OF forest protection and
|conservations so as to preserve from,
further destruction, one OF its most
valuable resources-tts forest OF fine
timber. Impetus was given to the
move at the outset Of the present ses-
sion OF the Legislature by the COVER
nor Of the state In his biennial mes
sage 10 the law-making BODY IN which
he sets fourth the fact that the forest
area OF West Virginia had been re-
duced from hfteen and three-fourths
millions Of forest acreage, less than
one and nall millions and 1t would
be absolutely necessary Tor the lesis-
lature to take steps to strengthen
the laws Of the state so AZ to better
protect the forest. In one year In
West Virginia the loss from forest
fire was 1887 ,525.0O. Since
that time during the operation OF q
law destined to AFFORD better protec-
ton the loss has been only one tenth,
but this has been partly accomplish.
ed through the .enortso OF the central
West Virginia Fire Protective Associ-
alton who with their own funds have
Ico-operated with the federal and state
governments in establishing a system
sol patrol which covers more than tiir-
teen counties. N 4 =
Government to Cooperate. Ms
The federal government lis ready to
cooperate with West Virginia in, all
measures looking to the better protec-
ton Of West Virginia forests but In
order to make such cooperation pos
sible 1T will be necessary for the leg
islature to take the proper steps
toward enacting laws which embody
advanced thought on this subject.
In conformity with the governors
and responsive to
an increasing public sentiment for
better forest laws the Hon. George B.
Thompson, Of Tucker county, prac-
teal lumber operator OF long exper-
fence, has introduced a bill in the
house Of delegates in which are in
corporated numerous provisions that
will make fire protection system in
West Virginia more effective. The
passage Of the Thompson bill depends
to a great extent upon the public sem
timent which exists for such a meas
ure. In the past the Indifference Of
the public to the great loss being sts>
tanned by the state through forest
fires and the same indifference toward
any proposed legislation to correc,
such state OF affairs has retarded
the development OF a proper fire lfight-
ing system either through the enact
ment of laws or in other ways? The
public has never seemed fully to reals
lie until within the last Few years
Just what the fires which ragged every
year meant in the loss OF values. val
ues forever destroyed, but with real
ization OF that loss and an apprecia.
ton of what has been done on a small
scale toward better forest protection.
sentiment has been awakened to a
very great extent If such sentiment
makes itself felt at the present SEES
sion Of the legislature. the state will
be in a position TO preserve and en-
courage very important Industry
and to prevent the destruction Or a
very important resource. 'sti s.
The Thompson Bill.
Experience having shown that the
PcnAily lUf utllUeTdlely anu Wllluliy