The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-07-22
e. S. MAKING
FIGHT FOR
BIG FORESTS
Hundreds of Men Employed
to Combat BIaze-Ex-
penSeS Mount.
Times Washington Bureau,
1929 Mfln Work. Ane


IVU1 ASHINGTON, July %. -
WI About $4,000 has been fight
Gl ing fires in national forests
on the west coast since July 1, &C
cording to-the United States For
estry Service.
This is almost half the annual APP
preparation of s250,00O which Con-
gress allows for that purpose. The
national forest reserve IN Western
Montana and Northern Idaho has
had 2s4 fires to fight, many OK them
comprising big areas of land as large
as 5000 acres They have had to
put 1000 men on the fire lines and
increase their patrol force to 100,
Their expenses have been S26,0000
since the first Of the month.
In the California national forest
ss2 600 has been spent during the
first two weeks Of the fiscal year
IHnd in Washington and Oregon,
s22 900. All this money is IN ad,
diuon to amounts spent by the
Federal Government and the States.
cooperating under the Weeks law to
protect State and privately owned
woodlands.
Caution Necessary
Though most Of the fires are now
reported under control constant
caution during the next months
must be exercised. Forestry
Service states. Losses arc reported
TO be somewhat under million
dollars in private and State forests
$3.50 900 in California. $3.50 ,0e00 in
Washington. 500 900 in Oregon and
$4,000 in Idaho.
The date fires this year have not
carried in their wake the tremendous
losses suffered In 1910 and 1916.
During the eight year period be
tween 1916 through 1923, there were
in the United States 3@97S0 forest
fires, causing damage amounting to
$142.5l7, 651. over a hurdred million
acres were burn d during that
period.
More trouble is experienced with
forest fires in the Northwest than In
the East, because they are apt to be
Grown fires" that is to say, in the
tops Of the trees. In the hardwood
regions and among the pines, the
fires stay near the ground When
they are once put out, it Is mostly
the young trees which have suffered
and these often resprout without,
any artificial stimulus Wounds in
the larger trees, even in the hard
wood regions. however, often occur
as the result OF fires, and these open
the way for fungus growths and
other troubles.
States Organized
Many States have their own forest
fire organizations, cooperating with
the Government in this work under
the Weeks law. The estimated cost
for protection in twenty-nine States
for these forests, which are exclu.
sive of national forests, is seven mil
lion dollars per year
The forester in charge OF the
United States national forest in Cali
fornia, because OF the troubles he
has already had. has closed a million
acres of International forest to camp
ers and settlers moving from place
to place and anticipates shutting of
another million acres of the Santa
Barbara forest, except to those going
through under permit, in which
names, addresses and license mum.
bers of cars will be carefully re.
corded.
The increased number OF 't1n can
tourists" is blamed for the large pro
portion Of forest fires in recent
years. Railroads back in 1910
caused 40 per cent Of the fires, while
the railroads could be blamed for
only per cent.