Evening star., 1924-09-17
LUMBER FIRE LOSS
TOTALS %,29D,O(0
Over 40 Per Cent of $500
Fires Due to CareIessness
of Tourists and Campers.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
Special DiSpat tch to The Star.

Speciai dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. September 17.-Lum-
Der experts say that the United
States is paying too high a price for
allowing its citizens to roam at will
over the woods and hills Of the pub
lie domain. They come to that con-
clusion aftet a study of the forest
nre losses in the Western states just
compiled by the Western Forestry
and Conservation Association.
In the Pacific coast states. including
Montana and Idaho. 80 far this year,
there have been $500 fires Forest
visitors. including campers. sports
men, motorists. berry pickers, hikers
and tramps have been responsible
for from 80 to ~ per cent Of these
blazes, the percentage varying with
the accessibility of the districts in
question.
Losses TstaI S4,25O,000.
These fires cost approximately
34.250. 900, of which $500.ooo repre-
sents the loss of privately owned
standing timber. 100000 the loss in
logs and logging equipment. $250.000
the loss to settlers and community
property, and $3,ooo.o00 the loss of
standing timber in National forests
and parks. The potential loss through
destruction of young trees in the
parks and National forests is very
great, for although these trees have
no commercial value now and could
not be used by the present generation.
eventually they would have become Of
great value.
One startling feature of the situa-
tion is the large number OF incendiary
fires reported. In Oregon out OF
private fires 1874. or about 20 per cent,
started from this cause. Lightning
was next in rank to the tourists as
a destructive agent and industrial
operations such as clearing OF land
for farms. and sparks from railroad
trains and from logging operations
como next. Since lumbermen know
fully the danger Of forest fires, the
latter cause is responsible for but
few fires but such as did occur as a
result Of logging operations have en-
tailed heavy loss, since they took
place naturally in the midst OF val
liable timber.
&1.9oO,Oo0 Spent for Protectioa.
The freedom from disastrous fire
loss apparently has been in almost
direct proportion to the amount OF
money spent in fire protection. Pri-
vate timber organizations have spent
approximately $1.500,000 in protection
the Government has dispensed $4zo'-
600 SO far for this purpose
However. losses this year have been
extremely light. They were less than
one.tenth those of the disastrous
season of 1910, and outside the Pacinc
Coast region there have oeen no
very serious forest conhagratlons.
The danger is not entirely past since
s5 per cent of the losses In wash
yacf
September. This year there has been
no long periods Of hot dry winds to
add to the danger.
The government still Is MAINTAIN
ing heavily augmented forces OF
forest rangers and fire fighters
throughout the Pacific states In ad-
dition to seven detachments OF Unl'eo
States troops detailed to forest patroi
work. These fire fighters are being
aided and kept informed by occa-
sional aeroplane patrols
Careless Tourists Scored.
Rangers. loggers and lumber manu-
facturers do not hesitate to say that
while recreation in the WOODS may
be a grand thing for those citizens
who can take advantage of 1t, 1t
comes at too high q price when the
carelessness of tourists and campers
may cost the country anywhere from
a few thousand to $25.00o.00o an
nually.
There have been over 400 prose-
cutions for violation Of the forest fire
regulations so far this year, yet these
have not served to check nres due
TO incendiarism and carelessness.
Experts are urging a further restric-
tive policing of forest areas which
will limit public utilization OF the
forests, both public and private. for
recreational purposes.