Imperial Valley press., 1924-08-30

l
! ly about forest fires, and so many
| conflicting statements made as to
their seriousness, that P. L. Moore
sent a Hudson with the necessary
equipment to get authentic infor.
nation for the. benefit of motor.
lists. 1t was found that some ex-
aggerations were made, but that the
situation is undoubtedly serious
That forest fires are primarily of
interest to motorists is evident from
the figures published by the Unit
ed States Department Of Agricul-
ture, under whose supervision the
national forests are being admins
tered, showing the number Of peo-
pie who visited the forests last year
and the percentage of various modes
of travel.
These figures show that 4,337 200
people enjoyed the hospitality of
Uncle Sam in the various play
grounds throughout the State of
California, and that 8S per cent of
these were transported thence by
motor ears.
Naturally, as more and more peo-
pie camp, picnic, hike and drive
through the woodlands, the fire risk
becomes greater. And there is but
one waysto reduce this risk
through education of the public in
the rules and regulations promulgat-
ed by the government to prevent de-
struction of the forests.
173,257 Acres Burned
Last year alone, l73,257 acres.
were burned over. OF this, 145, 700
acres were owned by the govern
ment. In other words, you and l,
as individuals, suffered a loss in
direct proportion to the number OF
acres burned over.
But that is not all. These fires
struck each of us in the pocketbook.
Over $6OO,000 was spent in Califor-
mia last year in combating this
menace, the money for which was
raised by taxation. The bill for
this years fires has already reach
ed the sum of 100000 with the
year but half over. a i
In addition to the loss of money
and timber, there are other losses.
Who can place a monetary value
upon the benefits of enjoyable va
cations. There will be no more
camping. in these devastated areas
for many years to come. And what
of the water that is stored up by |
the timbered hillsides to be fed
slowly into streams and lakes, |
Stacking our thirst, turning our tur--
bines, and irrigating our farms?
There is a photograph found in
the files of W. H. Harris, secretary
of the sixth district agricultural as
sociation, and manager of the state
Exposition Building at Exposition
Park, Los Angeles, showing the eff
fects of erosion on mountains de-
nuded of vegetation. 1t was taken
in China, of section originally
covered with forests of pines, frs,
and other evergreen similar to those
of California.
Happened in China
The unwise Chinese logged off
the timber, without refOrestation,
and allowed what remained to be
burned, until not a tree, not n bush
or a blade of grass is visible for
miles in all directions. Instead there
are black, bare hills, scanned and
furrowed by the rush of rainwater,
running off as it fell.
The fact that 80 per cent OF all
fires are. caused by human careless
ness, stands out like great red
blotch across our names. 1t can
and must be eradicated by careful
ness,
The government has issued many
good booklets on forestry and
camping. One Of these Handbook
for Campers in the National Forests
of California; contains many hints
and helps for all, not only novices
at camping, but old-timers as well.
1t describes the various nationai
forests within the borders OF our
state, with a map showing their
extent and location. 1t tells how
to make q camp,-beds, fires, etc,
and how to tie useful knots for
packing on automobiles and animals.
Camp cookery, given in its pages,
will interest both men and women.
Copies of the handbooks may be
obtained at any government for-
esters station, or at the informa-
tion bureau of the Exposition Build
ing at Exposition Park, Los Ange-
les. They are free to all.