The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-06-09
FOREST PROTECTION IS
GOOD FOR NORTHWEST

Forest Protection Week went over
strong" said George H. Cecil. district
forester, when seen today at the Port
land office of the U. S. Forest Service
THE efforts put forth in preparation
for the week by forest fire protective
associations; the National Parks asso-
! citation, Seattle; by state and federal
forest agencies, met with most encou-
raging results" Mr.. Cecil remarked.
1T shows a growing appreciation by
the people of the northwest of the ne
cessity of forest protection in order to
maintain for all time their present
place in the front ranks of lumber pro-
duction. No other forest region has
such an opportunity; for with our Won
derful forest wealth, Oregon and Wash
ington, by thoughtful protection and
wise use, can if they will always pro-
duce lumber in immense quantities"
Mr.. Cecil brought out the fact that
last year in oregon and Washington
there were 2,916 forest fires reported.
Forest fires in the United States an
nually destroy more than two billion
1 feet Of timber, or material enough to
build a f1ve-room frame house every
one hundred feet on both sides Of a
road extending from Seattle, Washing
| ton, through the entire state of Oregon
to the California line, according to Mr..
Cecil
with four people to house, these
100, 900 or more buildings would provide
home for nearly one-fourth our year
ly increase in population; number
sufficient to populate a new city each
year the size of Seattle or Portland"
More than 10000 forest fires have
occurred in the United States during
the past five years so per cent of which
were due to human agencies and there
fore preventable, say forest officials.
The government reports shsw that
these confagrations burned over 5s,-
4SS,OO0 acres-an area much greater
than that included within the state Of
Washington-and destroyed sS5,700,0 900
worth of timber and property. IF this
needless waste were stopped and the
material thus saved put into houses the
various business interests concerned in
building construction, such as lumber
dealers, carpenters, masons, and supply
houses, would, ii is estimated, benefit
to the extent of more than 400 million
dollars annually. Bankers and real es-
7te dealers would also profit through
the sale of lands and by loans on homes
to the extent of another 800 million
dollars Forest fires are therefore of
vital concern not only to the every day
citizens but to every business man and
laborer"
Mr. Cecil emphasized the fact that
forest protection goes hand in hand
with national prosperity; that next to
food and clothing, wood is the most
indispensable product of nature. With
out wood there can be no agriculture,
no manufacture, no commerce. Forest
fires destroy life and property, impov-
erish the soil, drive away game and
animal life, cause foods and droughts,
and make waste the Fairgrounds OF the
people" said the district forester.
President Harding at the request of
the Forest Service proclaimed the week
of May 92-2S as Forest Protection
Week in order that the present unnec-
essary waste of the timber resources of
the country and the serious condition
of our forests might be brought widely
to public notice. and its local observ-
ance took place not only throughout
Washington and Oregon but In all 9TH
er parts of the country"