Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-02-04
FROM CHARLESTON
FROM JAS. W. WEIR.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb.

West Virginia seems likely to perfect
its system of forest protection and
conservation, so as to preserve from
further destruction, one of it's 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 Cover
nor of the state in his biennial mes
sage to the law-making body in which
he set forth the fact that the forest
area of West Virginia had been re-
duced from fifteen and three-fourths
millions of forest acreage to less than
one and 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
protect the forests. In one year in
West Virginia the loss from forest
time during the operation of law
destined to afford better protection
the loss has been only one tenth, but
this has been partly accomplished
through the efforts of the Central
West Virginia Fire Protective Asso-
citation who with their own funds
have co-operated with the Federal
and State Governments in establish
ing 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
protection of West Virginia forests
but in order to make such co-opera-
ton possible it will be necessary for
the legislature to take the proper
steps toward enacting laws which
embody advanced thought on this
subject.
In conformity with the Governors
recommendations and responsive to
an increasing public sentiment for
better forest laws the Hon. Geo. 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
which will make fire protection sys-
tenn in West Virginia most effective.
The passage of the Thompson bill de-
ponds to great extent upon the pub
lie sentiment which exists for such a
measure. In the past the Indifference
of the public to the great loss being
sustained by the state through for
est fires and the same indifferences
toward any proposed legislation to
correct such 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
values, values forever destroyed, but
appreciation of what has been done
on small scale toward better forest
protection, sentiment has been awak-
ened to a very great extent. II such
sentiment makes itself felt at the
present session of the legislature, the
state will be in position to preserve
and encourage very important in
dustry and to prevent the destruction
of very important resource.
Experience having shown that the
penalty for deliberately and wilfully
setting out fires is not severe enough
the Thompson bill will make it 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 forester who shall be
appointed for his fitness, education
and training and not 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 scarser and scarcer,
other states haye ad 5pted methods of
preserving resources which in few
years viii have been exhausted. West
Virginia with limited means has done
something toward remedying the lax
ity of the past but there is still much
to be done, if the forests and the soil
and the sources of water supply are
to be cared for.
Owen Channel, of Dartmoor, was a