Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-10-16
FIRE PREVENTION
IN NATIONALPARKS
L. f. Zirkel Writes of GOVERNMENT
Conservation


ecutive secretary of the Shenandoah
National Park Association. in a
statement made Friday in Luray.
1.-THE region embraced by the pro-
posed Shenandoah National Park is
a land of forest-covered areas" he
said las we gaze at the majestic
beauty of these hills, we are thrilled
at the thought that they are ours.
But to the average man, the feeling
that they might be destroyed-nay.
will be destroyed-if prompt mea-
sures are not taken for their con-
servation, cannot be given too much
stress.
did you ever stop to consider
that at some time, you may again
gaze at the Blue Ridge and instead
of seeing the gorgeous greens and
blues, you would see nothing but an
enormous scar upon the landscape?
That event is as possible as your
birthday coming around We must
never forget the danger of forest
fire and the defoliation of insects.
The two catastrophes go hand in
hand
THE northern part of the park
area is severely damaged by the
chestnut blight. This disease kills
the trees and they die. Stripped of
their foliage, they stand ready to
kindle into fame when the ravages
of the forest fire hits them.
Under the supervision of the
government, if this. Blue Ridge
country is formed into the twentieth
national park, there will be little
likelihood of forest fires. The ma
tional park service has, in each ma
tional park, a well trained corps of
rangers These men ride fire patrol
every day, covering every mile in
the park area. Fire lookouts are
maintained at vantage points with a
ranger on duty there at all times.
In the event of fire, the nearest
ranger station is notified and imme-
diately sufficient men are sent to the
blaze Private citizens are called in
to action if it is deemed necessary
and the fire is combatted with great
energy.
THE Blue Ridge Mountains of
Virginia are as beautiful a range as
one can find in the country. Those
who attended the opening meeting
of the park association heard the re-
marks of well known men and wom-
en- who have travelled all over the
country and the wide world They
were unanimous in their opinion that
here at our very doors we have the
most beautiful scenic attractions that
have ever been seen Do we want
those natural beauties destroyed?
Besides the ever-present fire men
ace we must also consider the insect
pest In the other national parks,
the insects which have been despoil-
ing the trees are killed by various
methods, spraying, gas, etc With
this Blue Ridge country as nation
al park, such action will be taken by
the park service and they have in
their employ all the most modern in
sect fighting equipment as well as
men who know how to fight the
pests.
I'm preserving our forests, we are
saving the watersheds and regulating
the stream flow of the rivers. Char
lottesville depends upon the water
from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Do
we want that supply hindered or
stopped?
THE Importance of forests to the
nation is gradually being recognized.
They give recreation to millions,
they protect our water supply, they
act as inspiration to US all.
Without rangers on the job at
all times, a fire might start which
would have such a beginning that it
might not be controlled until the
whole country was wiped out. In
the West, forest fires have done this
same thing. 1t is true that there are
forest fires in the national parks,
but the system for fighting them is
being improved every year. In 1923,
there were 1923 forest fires in Yellow
stone National Park; in 1924 there
were 10 and this last summer there
was not single blaze. The rang
ers are constantly patrolling the auto
camps as well as in the out-of-the-
way places, if some one thoughtless-
ly leaves a camp fire, that individual
is made to put it out before he can
leave the park boundaries (every en-
trance station is notified) and in
many cases is heavily fined.
THE national park service keeps
the forest clean, they make everyone
think of the next fellow No dirty
camp sites are permitted, no throw
ing of refuse in promiscuous man
ner is allowed. The national parks
are for the people and they must be
protected and kept clean. II you
have the impression that the Shen-
andoah National Park will be the
meeting place of careless individuals
who will make the landscape a ter
rible blot, you are wrong Its beauty
will be kept unsullied for all.
Dead and fallen timber is remov-
ed, not only as fire preventative,