Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-07-15
MISS EBERT OF RICHFIELD
WINS PRIZE IN CONTEST

In the recent prize essay contest
in which the u. S Forest service Of
ferod a series of prizes for essays from
boys and girls on Fire Prevention"
Miss Nevada B. Ebert, of Richfield, was
awarded the ten dollar cash prize for
the best essay written by those be-
tween II and 10 year of age. Miss
Ebert is II years of age. The follow
ing is her prize essay:
One of the great problems of our
country to day is the protection Of
forests from fire. Unless fires are
prevented soon the resources of our
forests. the timber, forage, water,
and game will disappear, and the Ian
will become a desolate waste.
The protection Of forests is one OF
the all-important duties of the citi-
zens. The increase OF visitors to the
forests for recreAtion purposes has
greatly intensified thenatural hazard.
The presence of our vast natural
resources has resulted in an attitude
Of indifference as to the possibility
of their exhaustion. Most fires are
caused by carelessness of the very
persons who are most anxious to see
the forests preserved. Camp fires
should be built on rock from which
all inflamable materials has been re-
moved. When they have served their
purpose they must be thoroughly ex-
tinguished. Fire to burn brush or
refuse must be st only when the wea-
ther conditions are safe and sufficient
men are available to control them.
The economic loss in the past record
has been terrific one. and if repeated
must result only in stagnation of in
dustrial and civic development, and
direct injury to every Idahoan OF
whatever station in life. Thus it is
the duty of everey citizen to preserve
forests that these conditions may not
exist.
In addition to the many lives sac
rificed and timber lost, homes and
crops. frequently unprotected by in
surance are devastated. But the year
ly losses by forest fires alone are suf-
ficiently serious in themselves. for the
timber supply is being cut and de-
stroyed four times as fast as it Is
being renewed. Trees that have re-
quired from fifty to one hundred years
to mature are razed in n few hours
and unfortunately can not be replaced
in any shorter time than that re
luired by nature.
Thus in. destroying forests we are
not only damaging the present. but
we are literally burning up the future.
The man made" forest fires can be
eliminated from our forests in Idaho .
simply through realization on the part
# every citiden that his personal well
ore is concerned. Therefore. he i
should be sure that responsibility for s
forest fire can never be charged ;
lgainst him; take it upon himself to !
lrge similar caution upon fellow citi- :
,ens and visitors from other sections; Z
o o-operate with authorities in enforc- |
ng the laws against carefessly or I
causing forest fires. Is
In the administration of forests 1t t
must be clearly borne in mind that all
and is to be devoted to its most pro-
uctive use for the permanent good Of j
he whole people. Only with the aid
nd cooperation of the citizens can we 5
reserve our forests, and thus safe A
uard the future of our timber using s
ndustries, protect the watersheds OF c
ur streams, and maintain unintured 4
he play ground of our people. We G
ope that every citizen will 70 all that a
in his power to further the pro- r
ection of our forests as matter Of h
ublic welfare. s