River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-01-27
State Capitol News
Forest Fire Statistics

forestry member of the Conservation
Commission has compiled statistics of
forest fires in Wisconsin in 1920, from
reports furnished him by 522 of the
688 town chairmen in the northern or
forest counties. Total estimated loss
is $225.692, which doesn't include
damage to soil and scattering proper
ty loss on the 404,059 acres burnt ov-
er. Causes of fire are given: Rail-
roads, IL per cent; numbering, " ];
brush burning, 81; campers and hunt
ers, 4; incendiary, 2; unknown, SO per
cent. There were a total of 5,291
men who fought fires-68 per cent of
the number that occurred, and it cost
the local towns $14,540 to fight 1856
fires. The Conservation Commission
expended S20,450 in forestry and fire
patrol services on the state lands. For
fire patrol and protection of other
than state lands, the Conservation
Commission spent $8,74S, end the Fed
eral Government $2,813.
Should Feed Horses Better
Dr. A. S. Alexander, director of the
division of horse breeding of the
State Department of Agriculture re-
ports that farmers are making ser
ious mistake in Wisconsin in not feed
ing their horses better As result
animals coming to the horse market
are thin, and have long, coarse coats
of hair. Now that feed is cheaper it
is more profitable, DR.. Alexander says,
to give it to stock than to sell it. The
demand for the mares in the Chicago
market by Wisconsin farmers indi-
Gates that these men are now realiz-
ing their mistake in neglecting breed
ing.
Famine Relief in China
President Wilson has designated
DIR. Charles Mccarthy, head of the
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Lii
brary, to act as the member from
this state of the National Committee
on famine relief in China. The Com
niittee will not undertake drive but
appeals through the press to all re-
.iigi6us organizations, church congre~
cations, civic clubs, women's clubs.
and mercantile associations to take
up the matter. The need is immedi-
ate and pressing and DR.. Mccarthy
asks that action be taken at once by
all organizations.
Danger From Bridges Exaggerated
nj. w. Torkelson, bridge engineer
of the Wisconsin Highway Commits
sion, contends that the danger to high
way traffic from earlier built bridges
in Wisconsin has been greatly exag-
gerated. at is true" he says, that
weak bridges constitute one source OF
danger, but bad alignment, narrow
entertainments, railroad grade cross
ings, lack of enforcement of the traffic
rules, and many other causes of accl-
dent which might be cited are far
more serious" In his experience of
IL years, the engineer says, he does
not know of more than a dozen or Is
bridge failures. AS to the new bridg-
es being constructed by the Highway
Commission, Mr.. Torkelson says, they
are built to carry Is tons, but because
of the Commissions strict require
raents they are good for 20 tons.
Road School at Madison Next Week
The Road School, conducted by the
Wisconsin State Highway Commission
will open Monday. Jan. 81, and con-
time for four days. 1t will be held
this year in Music Hall at the Univer-
sity and the machinery exhibit will
be in front of the Historical Library
on the lower campus. During some
sessions, the county Commissioners
and others who attended found diff
Guilty in getting Accommodations. There
will be no trouble this year, if those
who contemplate attending send in
their application promptly,
Highway Safety Campaign
j. A. Hardwood, Chairman of the
Wisconsin Highway Commission. be-
lieves the time is ripe for launching a
campaign for safety in highway trav-
ell. He points to the fact that in 1919
the fatalities in highway traffic was
1900 and increased in 1920 to approx
in.ately 10000. Of the total fatalit-
les in highway traffic in 1919 for the
whole country which numbered 20
coo, at least half are classed as auto
mobile accidents. One step toward
safety, then, Mr.. Hardwood believes
is to require experience in running
automobiles by licensing drivers.
Thousands Available for Farm Work
Secretary White of the Industrial
Commission has issued a notice to
farmers tellincs them that there are