Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-02
FROIECTION AGAINST
COSTLY FOREST FIRES
Small Cost to State and Owners
Of Timber Lands.
STATE FORESTER GIVES ALARM
Every Year Virginia Loses Big Sum
hy Names inSthe 'Woods-Govern-
ment and State Stand to Help.
Cooperation the Word.

Tho season when forest fires may
'abe prevented in Virginia is not far
away. and 1t is we'll enough for the
people to begin to take measures for
projection.
Forest fires have been prevalent for
years in all parts. OF Virginia. and
have done an incalculable amount of
injury to merchandise timber. young
growth. the soil, and frequently to
other property. such as houses. barns,
fences. orchards. farm crops. etc For
merly the damage was not thoroughly
realized, particularly in backward sec
tions and where timber was relatively
abundant. But with the spread OF ed
ucation and with the increasing scarcity
and the resulting higher prices OF tim
Der, there has come an Increasing re-
alization OF the enormous amount OF
the annual destruction OF property by
FOREST hres. which must amount to
over 100000 per year to merchantable
timber alone. to say nothing of the
damage to young growth and to the
soil. etc.
There has como very widespread
determination among citizens OF Vir-
Etnia that this scnseless destruction
shall cease. and in place of the former
feeling of helplessness. there is a re-
alization that. Virginia timber can be
protected just as we'll as that of some
OF the Northern and Western States
where very efficient State fire-protec-
tive systems are now In operation. at
a.trtfing cost, compared to the value
ofsthe timber protected. One South
ern. te-Maryland-has for years had
sIJre-protective system, which Is be-
coming more efficient constantly, and
tho. beginning Of such system has
already been made In Virginia and In
parts of the adjoining States OF Ken
lucky, West Virginia and North Caro-
lima. A very effective beginning has
been made in several counties of Vir-
}ginia through tho cooperation OF the
Federal government. the State gov
ernment, and either the county gov
eminent or the timber-land owners.
METHOD OF COOPERATION
THAT WILL HELP
The Forest Service of the United
States Department OF Agriculture Is
helping the States to protect them
selves against fire by providing n GER
tain amount of money to be spent in
paying the salaries OF patrolmen and
watchmen. This money can be spent
only where the States themselves are
making an organized effort to prevent
fires. The State OF Virginia Is now
able to take advantage OF thiI offer
ofsths Federal government. and through
4e.. agreement between the Secretary
of Agriculture. at Washington, and
the State Forester OF Virginia, at
Charlottesville. n small sum has been
allotted to the State of Virginia. to
be spent for fire prevention under n.
direction Of the State forester.
The amount is too small to cover tho
State thoroughly. hence it has been
decided that it shall be used only In
localities where there is enough local
interest in hre protection to make
either the county supervisors or tho
cumberland owners willing to go to
an expense equal to that OF the gov
eminent. This plan results automatic
ally in the money being spent where
1t is the most needed and where 1t
will do the most good
TEN COUNTIES APPROPRIATE
MONEY FOR FIRE PROTECTION
The county supervisors have legal
purposes Of fire protection. After a
few years. this1nay fake the form OF
paying for the service OF forest war
dens and perhaps men employed by
them for the time actually spent in
fighting fire. but in the meantime a
beginning should be made by the en-
ployment of patrolmen. Such men
work on a monthly basis only during
no T.,
the spring and fall. usually about four
months per year, depending upon the
dryness of the season. In cases where
the county authorities will pay the
salaries for such patrolmen for one
half Of their time. they can be paid for
the other half of their time by the
United States government. and an offer
to this effect is made 10 the county
authorities by the state forester, as
long as the government money holds
out. These men are selectd and ap-
pointed by the State forester with the
advice of the county supervisors and
other persons interested, are local men
thoroughly familiar with their district
and widely acquainted in the county
4 Their appointment Is made on tho
basis Of efficiency alone and experience
- mas proved tnal capable and rellA lie
men can be secured for this work. I,
is the duty OF such men to trave,
throughout their district during the
dry seasons, being constantly on the
lookout for fires. fighting any that they
= discover. posting warning notices, ex.
planning the laws to everybody eau
tioning those who may be careless. and
Investigating the cause of every fores,
fire that occurs in their districts, and
in case the State laws have been VIC
lated. endeavoring to secure evidence
on which to prosecute the fragrant cases
Appropriations were made for patro
work in 1916 by the following counties
j Norfolk. Chesterfield. James City
Montgomery. Appomattox, buckingham
Gloucester and Nottoway. From on,
to four patrolmen were employed IN
s each Of these counties during the DIR,
weather in the spring Of 1916, and al
u the reports from these counties indi
i cate that the citizens there feel tina
" the patroImen are doing much good, cs
pcially in making everybody more care
full. r. c. Jones State Forester. a