Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-04
DULUTH FOREST
SERVICE MEN
DOWN TO WORK
Annual Preparations Being
Made Under Handicap of
Curtailed Funds.

Duluth. Mimi, April 4,-Approacf,
the year which means strenuous la
Dor and at times gripping suspense to
members Of the state forest service
finds local headquarters for the
northeastern Minnesota. district teem-
ing with annual preparations.
Lack of available funds having
caused cirtailment of his force.
Henry G.. Weber, district supervisor.
director Of forest patrol activities in
this part OF the great north woo"s, is
utilizing every economical mean to
further his campaign of educating
residents, tourists and others in the
simple, but, modern art of preventing
forest fires.
With a force of only fourteen men
rangers n patrolmen-carinS
Supervisor Weber anxiously awaits
announcement from state 'headquar-
ters at ST.. Paul that the Legislature
has passed. Ia an emergency meas
urc, The proposed appropriation for
the forest service.
Simultaneous with tho approval OF
the forest appropriation provision To-
ca! district ineadquarters will be the.
center. Of a recruiting Champaign.
which. according to plans already
outlined. viii bring back into The
ser>ice as many veterans Of tina Dor
eat patro! as the funds will permit.
Supervisor Wehber realizes that
within the next month fire hazards
will become ar actuality in the seven
ntate districts in his division. Unless
funds r provided to enlarge the
patrol of this district in h in1rnedi-
..,+e Entlne, so as to establish a ialze-
Corps of patroln,en and rangers. the
Ststrict will be without what Is con-
[ sidered proper patrol during that
4 season of 1921. when Nfr. Wehher as
{ serts, forest fires are most likely 10
occur. '' III
When the snow is erased from the
!. forests by the mild winds of spring
. and in the interim OF the winter sea-
Z son and the arrival of vegetation this
y year, there will be danger, especially
D. In that portion Of the reserve that
4 was scorched and .charred by this
n 391S fires.
y The supervisor explained that TIM
bers. sapped of life by the destructive
e ed. Many trees have fallen to the
h ground. In many places there is al
Il most a solid network Of fallen trees
I and branches. Through this area. in
4 1919 and 1920, there was a heavy
) growth Of ass tho long. bristly type
i of forest grass. winch, now LnaL IL
Il has dried. forms A covering for q
n great portion of this district.
That there is greater danger of fire
this spring in this area. than original
Z ly. before the catastrophe Of 1918. ia
the opinion Of he's supervisor. In I'M
belief he is Joined by scores Of set
I tiers who have rebuilt their homes
y and now reside in the fire swept
" country. And, until some organized
effort is made to clear these paftacu-
lar regions the danger will tacrease
from year to year, h supervisor de-
clared. Daily at district headuuar,
. tiers, letters from settlers, persistent
" reviewing this phase OF, h situa.
,ion, are received. In answer, thu
j ~pnsor,. eaaatt%. individual;
rrccs ytior and express hope for as
s~;stance' through. state Legislative APP
rE~oprjation, :.
SUPERVISOR Weber firmly believes
that the Lesson learned from the ter
T rihle fires of 1915 when approximate
liz 900 persons, lost their lives and
propertv:,loss estimated at $50, 0Oe,:
600 was entailed. will not soon b.
forrottpn. ET. ht' Ger