Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1917-08-09
RIPE GRAIN IN DANGER
OF FIRE RE GARRETT


there is shortage of grain IN the
world. Every bit counts, see that
you are not responsible for the loss
of single grain of wheat. See if
you cannot be the means of saving
some of it.
Now that the grain of the north
west is ripe and ready to harvest,
the railroads as well as grain deal
ers and public authorities have join
ed in urgent public appeal to prevent
the crops, which are so essential to
military success, from being con-
sumed by fires.
J. P. O'Brien, operating vice pres
ident of the o. w. r. & N. company,
has asked the farmers to cooperate
with the carriers to minimize the
fire loss along the railroads,
Harvey Wells, Oregon state fire
marshal, also has issued an express
i've bulletin urging care and caution
in the same direction.
"The season is approaching when
great dangers from fire are present"
said Mr.. O'Brien yesterday
Grain Fields are Hazard.
In addition to other risks, the
ripening fields of grain which bor-
der the lines of the railroad are a
source of special hazard. The pre-
cautions taken by the railroads and
the owners of the crops have proved
valuable, but constant and continued
vigilance is necessary to protect US
from fires"
In pursuance of this preventive
campaign, MIR. O'Brien has caused to
De posted in all the coaches, observ-
alton cars and smoking compart-
ments of sleeping cars warnings re-
aiding as follows:
DANGER
Fires are menace to life and
property.
Do not throw burning cigarettes,
cigars or lighted matches from the
car windows or platforms.
For the last several weeks the O.
". r. & N. company has carried
vatchmen on the rear platform of
every train operating in the grain
oelt. His duty is to keep careful
lookout, and if smoke or blaze app
.ars the train is stopped and the fire
,xtinguished
Do;JrnoJe Cnnnorofo
"Our right of way is kept clear of
inflamable material as nearly as po-
,sible," explained Mr.. O'Brien. Fur
Their, we work in cooperation with
he owner of the land. 1t is essential
hat safeguard for grain fields be
provided. The cutting of swath,
The blowing of furrow and the
burning of the stubble are things
that should be looked after. Here
IS where the farmer can assist. In
order to garner his crop he must
cut way for the harvesting ma
shine, and to protect the remainder
he should run furrow. Reapers
and horses to draw plows are not
part of the rail roads equipment
50 we expect assistance from the
nan whose property we are trying
20 maintain free from danger.
"The menace is everywhere pres
emit. The harvested crop is stored in
warehouses along the line; loaded
cars await moving; stations are con-
gested with various assortments OF
reight, much of which is inflamable
yet the railroads are reducing fire
losses each year by constant watch
illness of their employees.
Fires Disastrous To All.
"While comparatively few fires a.
long the right of way are caused by
locomotive sparks, we always are
willing to help in fighting the flames
But we must have the entire cooper
alton of the farmers in the fire pre-
yention work. Our interests in this
particular are identical. If a field of
grain is burned, the farmer loses,
the railroad loses and the public
loses"
Similar sentiments are expressed
in the current bulletin issued by the
state fire marshaPs office.
"This war is not going to be won
by grains of powder" says the bull
etin, "but by grains of wheat. This
is not a war of surprise but war of
supplies. The millions of bushels of
grain grown in the northwest this
year are still thousands of miles
from France. 1t is to be shipped be-
fore the enemy is whipped.
"Your grain may be insured but
you cannot eat the money; neither
can the boys in France. An army
must be fed before we can go ahead.
"You who cannot travel with the
army must help the army travel. 1t
is up to YOU"
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