Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-04
NEED MORE FUNDS FOR OUR
FOREST PROTECTION

There Is only one way 10 reoeeIH
the responsibility of forest protec-
ton, and that is to maintain
throughout the periods of fire
danger a strong, we'll organlzed,
trained and equipped protective
force, with adequate numbers OF
lookouts, guards, dispatchers, etc.
we'll supplied with the most modern
and effective equipment obtainable,
including fire trucks, pumps, air
planes and other devices which have
proved their usefulness.
Fire losses can be reduced by
measures OF prevention and pre-
paredness as follows: Educational
work among local residents: vigor-
Gus enforcement of anti-t1re laws;
removal of recognized hazards, for
example roadside slashings; var
ious means of fire proof1ng the woods
including firebreaks emergency fire
lines. snag removal. etc; completion
of necessary system of lookout
towers and telephone lines; ade-
ouate fire suppression equipment
including hand and gas pumps, fire
trucks, etc.; Strengthening Of pro-
lection organization, with more
rangers, fire dispatchers, patrolmen
eac."
While most of these suggestions
made by L. P. Kneipp. acting forest
er of the U. S. Government, are not
new to those having charge of the
protection of forests, they are in
deed worthy Of repetition as too
much emphasis cannot be placed
upon them.
It is evident from Mr.. Kneipp's
report that he believes the policy Of
economy should not be applied
rigidly to the Bureau having super
vision of the forest fire fighters.
Yet the resources now available for
these purposes are seriously made
quate, he points out in telling of the
heavy losses sustained in the Ma
tional forests during the season
just closed. Protective efforts
never will be fully effective until
more liberal provision is made for
the basic work of fire protection"
he declares.
THE past season was as bad as
any year on record as far as meteor
illogical conditions were concerned"
said Mr.. Kneipp. explaining that by
meteorological conditions" he meant
prolonged drouth, low precipitation,
low atmospheric humidity. high
temperature and high winds, plus
unusual and unparalleled lightning
storms, accompanied by very light
precipitation. The results from
such unusual conditions were off,
set in part however. by the ad
vantages accruing from better roads,
better equipment and better eXper-
fence in fire fighting, and thus it
was possible to prevent a repetition
of the catastrophe of 1910.
Respecting the causes of fires. Mr..
kneipp made this comment:
There is better cooperation from
railroads; more effective fire pre-
cautions; cleaning of rights of way
Is helping; there are more rigid re-
quirements imposed on employees;
material decline in the number of
fires, and area burned.
Lumber operators now cause
small number of serious fires. There
is a more effective enforcement Of
timber sale requirements and fire
precautions and more effective per-
sonnet control.
THE largest number of fires are
caused by local people. Outside
tourists are more careful.
"Incendiaries are yielding some
what to educational work and law
enforcement, but still are trouble
some in part of California and
southeastern States. Brush burning
is being reduced by educational
work, law enforcement and tactful
cooperation by forest officers"
Referring to the problem of pro-
tecting the forests from fires, the
forest economist of the National
Lumber Manufacturers Association,
makes the following statement:
"A feature of this years forest
fires that Is curious to the layman Is
that most of them were set by
lightning. Another interesting feat
ure Is that the long scolded automo-
bile tourists and campers are now
more circumspect with fire in the
woods than the inhabitants. The
latter cause more fires by careless
ness than the former.
1.-THE United States Forest Ser
vice and the great fire fighting or
ganization of the lumbermen unite
in the claim that while great ad-
vances are being made in guarding
the forests from fire. the whole
present system Is on too small a
scale. To attain the maximum Of
practical protection the average an
nual expenditures should be about
three cents an acre for all the forest
lands in the United States. or about
$13,000,000, as compared with So =
100000 to s5.ooo,0oo at present.
president Coolidge. has become
deeply interested in the problem OF
forest FIRE prevention. and has in
vited a committee of northwestern
business men to meet him at the
White House on October to dis
cuss larger and more consistent
Federal expenditures for protecting
the forests in cooperation with
State and lumbermen's agencies.
1T Is assumed that he has been
moved to this course by the much
heavier losses in the National For
,sts this year than in private timber.
i. T. Allen forester of the National
Lumber Manufacturers Association,
and manager Of the Western For
estry and Conservation Association.
Portland, Oregon: A. w. Laird, Pot
latch. Idaho. president the Associa-
ton; e. c. Sammons. vice-president
Of the United States National Bank
Portland, Oregon, and about twenty
other northwestern business men
will make UP the delegation"