The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-04-24
MONTANA N H
NATIONAL FOREST
I6 MILLION ACRES OF LAND
WITH 80 BILLION BOARD
FEET OF TIMBER.
FIRE Consumes Twice as Much Lum-
Der as Is Cut Annually; Govern
ment Has Designated April 21-27
as Forest Protection Week.
BY ADoLPH wEHoLT

the President of the United States
for the purpose of bringing before
the people the vast
wastage of our forests by fire. Per-
sons and organizations interested
in outdoor life, in game and wild
life, in water resources, and in &C.
onomic and civic matters should
assist willingly in making the week
a success. April 21-27 is Forest
Protection Week.
Montana has 100000 acres of
national forest land, supporting So
billion board feet of timber. Lumber
ing stands third in the industries of
the state, being exceeded only by
mining and agriculture,
Fire continues to be the greatest
single agency of forest destruction.
The acreage swept each year by fire
is about twice the area annually cut
over by numbering operations. 1t is
estimated by ~foresters that more tim
Der has fallen before the flames than
before the ak. More than so per
cent of the fiji es are man-caused, and
are preVentable. Most of these fires
are caused by careless throwing away
lighted matches and cigarettes, leav-
ing camp fires unextinguished, and
burning slash during the dry season
when clearing land -Carelessness
with fire is costing the forest service,
annually, a vast amount of money in
fire suppression, also a heavy toll
in loss Of N4rr tin IA. va-a,,roo1
Why should not every person feel
a keen interest in the protection and
conservation of our timber resources
when practically all industries are
dependent upon forests for their raw
material? Timber is essential in de-
veloping Il mines, both coal and
mineral. Timber is needed for de-
veloping and improving farms. I'm
mense e of land are dependent Oil
the watersheds for water supply for
hundreds of cities are de-
pendent upon the mountain streams
for their water supply. Timber on
the mountain slopes control the wa
ter supply since it retains the snow
and moisture until late in the spring,
and gradually supplies the springs
and small streams with water thru
out the summer which furnish water
for irrigation. When timber is de-
by fire, leaving the ground
of all vegetation and forest
cover, the spring rains and water re-
sulting from melting now rush down
the mountain sides causing floods,
and later in the season when water
is needed, the streams will be prac-
dry.
Every consideration must be given
to the protection of our forests if
Montana is going to prosper. 1t is
up to every citizen to do their part in
preventing fires.
The following rules, if followed
when visiting the forests, will elm
a great number of our annual
1 Be sure your match is out be-
ore throwing it away. Break it in
wo with your fingers.
2 Don't throw cigars, cigarettes,
md pipe ashes along the roadside. If
-ou are riding, improvise an ash tray
n your machine. A tin a will do
f you are walking, grind your stubs,
matches and ashes in the dirt.
3 Build small camp fires away
rom brush and small trees. Scrape
way all leaf mold and other inflam-
nable material around your fire.
4 Never leave your camp fire un-
watched. A wind may spring up any
1oment.
5 Pour water on your camp fire
Then your are finished with it. Be
ure it is dead-then bury it with
irt or gravel. Don't make the mis-
AXE of burying it with leaf mold or
Their inflammable material.
6 If in wooded region keep in
ouch with the State or Federal for
st ranger or firewarden. Report all
res you may see, however small. If
Oh see a fire beginning to burn stop :
nd fight it while some other mem /
er of your party gets word to the 2
or firewarden. +
z Be as careful with fire while =
on are in the wooded areas as you +
-ould be in your own home. Be 4
l%oughtful and reasonable at all 7
|.
Each year more and more people I
Isit the forests where they spend Z
leir vacation at some beautiful spot, +
ways selecting a place where the I
'ees are green, but never in a burnt /.
yer area. Campers and pleasure :
,ekers are invited to the national 9
rest to spend their vacations They :
e urged upon by forest service Of \
GERS to take every precaution to pre- .
mt forest fires.
When the changing of a fire gong =
lnounces a fire in a city Oh town =
cry individual becomes excited and :
i'll render services to help suppress :
fire to prevent loss. Why should =
IT the same interest prevail when a =
rest fire occurs and threatens to =
b us of our timber supply. Forest =
res often threaten millions of dol 3
RS worth of timber and property, :.
Id even human life. 1t d%eprives =
If wild life of shelter and food as y
I'll as despoiling the public's play =
ound of recreational possibilities. u
There is no reason why all citi- Y
s should not respond as quickly =
hen a heavy cloud of smoke is dis r
-, +I1 xsaszsfu Af n fOracf III