Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-07
GREAT FOREST FIRES SET
BY CARELESS TOURISTS
Government Urges Campers to APP
prcciatc Necessity for Prccau-
tiOnS i'm WOutls,

because Of the war. Germany lost
about 2l,5i7.52c acres OF land cx-
elusive Of plcbiscitey. This WAS an
doubtcdly serious national misror-
tune to Germany. The United States.
during the period l9l6-i320 inclusive,
burned up a6.4SS,307 acres IF our for
eStcd arca-ovcr two and one half
times rs much as Gcrmany's entire
loss-an area greater than New York
hnd Pennsylvania combined or Of,
Minnesota. Kansas. Idaho or Utah
While IL Is impossible to trace
the origin OF AL forest fires. the
records Of the forest service Of the
United States Department of hEri-
culture show tina, large number
originate through tho carclcssnoss Of
happy Zo-Iucky tourists The forest
service is anxious to encourage tho
rsc Of the national forests as rccr"a-
ton grounds I. co-opcratoE with
plans for building nnc roads through
IN" forests. and establishes numerous
fro" camping grounds. whore shelter.
water and Hrcwood NAV h" obtained.
MANY of thoe" car>pa ar" located OF
main automobile hirhwavH and ar.
easily reached som" c'n'os rrovid"
tourist guido maps 10 IN" forcsts and
camp ei,oa
5000" >'"n C-mncr< l'.r Forests.
Ahou: = Onn .ndO people. +. is rsti-
mated urn 'hc forests each voa- dur
ing the vacation @"ason. \, Eagle
Tarnn Ground on tho Colurnhi" riv"r
HIGHWAY ~ m" Oregon National
fSo-"qt. ~" Hnn tourists rncistcroh las,
r"ar Som" ~ tho camnors. however
ao mot SOON 80 aonror'a'o ~" nloae-
touring public Trov dlsr~n-o tNc
scenery With rubbish and H1tN 'hc~
h'r-ncnrd ramc Lave ari uo'Iu'c
streams but thci- worr, and most
frr0ucnt',. rnrr--'nr- or'nrec. accord
ing ~ fo-ee. officers. &c N" starting
30 Hns'ru0t'rn forest Hroe y" caro-
lossroes either with camp fires or
with smoking
lighted cigarette Thrown into d-v
leaves or noodles may start Gro
'Na' Will spread for miles. 4 carnp
~" not fully cStinpuishod may he
IN" means OF destroying valuahl"
timber which has taken hundreds ~
years 20 reach maturity. Th" reports
~ forest rangers arc filled with dra-
matte accounts "f IN" work involved
~ controlling such fires and also In
detecting and bringing the cUlprits
h"'Cr" 4 iTdCc after following tho
vcr" slight clues oh,ainahln in a Dc"
serted camp site. Sometimes an old
hnt'l" or 4 pocket handkerchief Will
reveal tho original possossor who iif
not nu' out his Ere Sometimes n
particular make ~ automobile tire
can he traced for mics and the care
less camper brought To justice.
No Fines Restore burned Arrn.
No nncs, however, on tn" part Of
the local magistrate. VIII restore the
burned area. While forest rangers
arc virilant and alert 10 catch care
lcssnoss and prevent !ncipicnt rres
the real need. The Gpr"stcrs gay, is
for the develonr1cnr of more con-
science on tho part ~ the public
which uscr the national forests II
ia greatly desired ny tho forest scrv-
!ce tina, all the ~ national forests.
from tho Atlantic ~ tn" Pacific. and
from gulf 10 border, be used and
enjoyed 10 tho fullest extent by as
many people as possible. This In
wolves universal adoption ri tho slo-
gan. "Bc sure your hr" is out"'