Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-20
DAMAGE BY FOREST FIRES
ESTIMATED At S6O7 900
Mcrchantablc Timber Suffers
Damage of 100000; Young
Growth, S215,000 in 1921.
COUNTIES ASSIST
Make Appropriations Varying From
so To $500 Per CouBty-Work OF
Volunteer "ftre Corrrnpondrntsv
mud Fire Wnrdcns Commended.

CHARLOTTESVILLE VA. March
is-Alfrcd b. Hastings. Assistant
state Forester. said today he csti-
mated tn" damage done In Virginia
by forest fires In 1921 as follows:
I" fncrchantablc timber. ;2O3. 900: TO
Young growth, $4,000. and TO build
inSH' fences. etc. $4,000. total
nhnare %. S607.000. not Including the
INJURY /" the soil. This representa-
- smaller damage than that for 1920,
which was estimated at $723.cO0. In
Spil" or the very severe drought
during most of 1871 These figures
are based on the Official reports Of
inc forest wardcns in the thirty
"Ight counties Of Virginia in which
'h"r" wer" such officers in fg2l, and
on the unofficial reports Of voluntary
fire correspondents" in about half
of The remaining counties.
ThIrty-I;Ight Counties Assist.
During 1924. thirty-eieht counties
iU Virginia were co-0pcratlur with
tn" State forestry department ia the
prevention and control OF forest
TRES. having made voluntary anpru-
rriations Tor this purpose. ranging
from SO 10 $3.50 per county la each
"i thcs" counties a skeleton orgaui-
I"u"h OF Forest warIcns Was busy
during the dry windy weather. YDriur
guard against tn" occurrence. OF for
,st fires, taking tho lendcryhip in tx
hnguishine such fires a. occurred
ana prosecuting viOlatOrs OF The for
est tire laws. During 1921 there
vas notable dcacrcasc from the
previous year In thu percentage Of an
forest nrcs that were r.uortod as
originating from lImbcrins or.ra
,'ons' This decrease is credited
lars"!y 10 the "ncc; pf tho law Of
l1sl requiring operators OF saw
i"iils In or near The woods TO keen
'h"ir sites free from inflaInmnhl,
rash
Hru,h burning Dcrrrnsr,
me number Of fires reported as duo
10 brush burning decreased from %
per cent ~ all forest nrrA In la2G
10 - p"r cent ia 1921. indicating
greater car" on the part Of farmers
IN preparing their ground In tn,
FpiIhS. Thc h"yr"at" IN i,cs caused
ny brush burning In The counties
which are wuTklns win the stan.
Forestry Department ON the fir. prnn-
!"in J. thought To bc due I'm l.rr.
ih"hsur" 10 greater respect for tho
ia" and it, enforcement, II IL ,iso
eva" !" IN" personal iuiiu.nc. of m.
NArH'HS WI" cudcaVor to visit an
'h"sr clearing up Hand or burning
hrNHh and 70 scCur" hrariy cu-op.ra-
t"n TN support ~ nro prevention
aud control
Forrest wnrdrns Trni.rJ.
bHr!H" It.! tho forcs, wardcus
'"9k criminal action ngains, yinl,-
tors az the forcar-Grc Law. In thirty
case" which resulted In twcn,y.sl,
convictions
During 1921 ahou, 81 ter cen, O.,
hr land area 81 tAc State was Gov
cFeh ~ t@c state ana county fire pre-
NcntNc organizations. Of witch a-c,
about 1.bt3.OO0 acres was for.s, az.
brush land. The iucr.ns- In IN. ARIA
euNcrrH hy cooperative fire pro,.c-
t'"n ~ indicated 10y thc fact trat tn.
number OF counties making such vol
un'ary appropriation. in 1920 was
"niy tw"nty-n!u.. al! az which con-
'in.'d I'll" worit in 1921 with MIN,
counties added.
In commenting on tho smaller dam.
az" from fires last year as arai,,.,
the previous year. in spite ~ IN.
wci!-hno"n drought. Mr.. Hastings
said. The forrs, wardena OF Viz
Einla have done splendid, ungelGsl,
service. and II IS only fair ,hat ,h.v
be given due cr.di, for III. results
'h.y nave secured Thnv need ana
deserve The support y: their fellow
citizcns In the forcgt-iiro season which
- about I" commence"