Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-01-21
CONSERVATION OF THE
WEST VIRGINIA FORESTS
Has Become One of the Principal
Problems Confronting the
Legislature

Charleston, Jan. 19.--The conser-
walton of West Virginia forests has
become one of the principal problems
confronting the legislature. No 9th
er resource in the state has been de-
stroyed so rapidly as have the forests
through fires and lack of attention
and protection. This fact seems to
be appreciated by the Governor of the
state who discusses the matter in his
message to the legislature. He points
out that the forests which once cover
ed almost the entire length and
breadth of the state, and which rep
resented in value as we'll as quality
and diversity, one of the greatest for
est areas in the world, has dwindled
from FIFTEEN AND THREE
FOURTHS MILLIONS OF FOREST
ACREAGE to less than ONE AND
A HALF MILLIONS. The Governor
urges that the laws in regard to the
forests of the state should be
strengthened by revision so that more
care and protection will be invoked
for that part which still remains, and
so that the greatest amount of coop
GRAFTON can be had with the Federal
Government, in keeping with the pro-
visions of the Weeks law He directs
attention to the fact that in the past
the state has been receiving no little
financial support for the forest SER
vice by being able to cooperate in a
way satisfactory to the Federal Gov
eminent During the year 1908 the
Governor declares, previous to the
passage of the forestry law, 5,997 ,525
was lost in the state for that year
from forest fires alone. The amount
of money which has been saved by
the operation of the forestry law
would be more than sufficient to run
the state government since the laws
enactment.
In accordance with the Governors
recommendations and an awakened
public sentiment it is proposed to
strengthen the law so as to protect
the forests. An effort will be made to
amend the law so as to require all
counties to pay uniform rate of
$3.50 per day to those who fight fires
but in order to relieve the county of
the time consumed in verifying
claims of that nature, all such claims
will have to be audited by the state
Warden or the Forester and then it
will become mandatory when so certi-
fled for the county to pay such claims
at the next regular term. The law
will probably be drawn so as to per
NIT individuals or associations to pay
those who fight fire Immediately
after the fire is over, the county re-
imbursing those who do that. In or
der to insure greater care in the pro-
lection of the forests the willful or
malicious setting on fire of the for
ests will be made equally as culpable
as arson. In short any person, or cor
poration who willfully or maliciously
or with intent sets on fire any wood
land shall be deemed guilty of fell
ony instead of misdemeanor, as is
now the case, with punishment of
from one to five years in the peniten-
tiary. Carelessness or negligence in
setting out fires are to be considered
misdemeanors. 1t is also believed
that it would be conducive to the bet
ter protection of the forests if the
law provides that man cannot start
a fire in the brush or woods on his
own land without first seeing that
there is no danger of the fire escap-
ing to adjoining property and that if
such fire does escape to adjoining
property it will be prima facie evil
dence that the proper care has not
been exercised and will constitute
grounds for a civil action
In order to more properly care for
the timber and forests Of the state
it is proposed to have p State eorcst-
gfsl~ ,.t, i;n.4 cr;e a. A.
ucation shall equip him to discharge
the duties of the office efficiently and
that he shall be appointed by the
State Warden solely with regard t.
fitness. Another provision which
is believed would be wise 20 incorr D.
rate in the laws is clause permitting
those who have waste lands to pre-
sent such lands to the state for pr
poses of demonstration
Unless steps are taken to guard
against forest fires. there will soon
be no timber left in West Virginia
for fires have done very greaa dam
age as pointed out b. the Gov rnor.