The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-05-19
WHY DO WE FIGHT FOREST
FIRES

| IL Ids UcCu So lOuS ago IQdt
Maryland began protecting hen
forests from fires that many OF
us may not have heard, or can
not recall, just what specific
reasons were given for carry
ing on the work. No doubt
there are those who think the
only objective is to prevent
trees from being rendered val
ueless for timber, and the State
or County's interest in prevent
ing and controlling fires was
merely a response to preserve
the properties OF forest owners
as taxpayers. From the stand
point of the forest owner that
explanation would be sufficient,
Lbut from the longtime point
OF view, which the government
must keep in mind, forest pro-
lection is not primarily for the
few thousands who possess the
trees and land, but is for the
benefit of hundreds of thous-
ands who need wood now, will
need it one hundred years
from now, or perhaps indefi-
nitely for building their homes,
for making their floors, their
furniture, boxes, newspapers,
books, garages, barns and a
multitude of things, and for the
benefit of those whose farms
will be covered with boulders
and sterile soil if trees do not
protect the hills and mountains
against the wash of heavy
r a in S. Without protection
from fires, our forests become
ugly graveyards where gaunt
snags stand as tombstones to
mark the departure of living
plants and animals. When the
forests are gone from a COM
munity the tourists ana sum-
mer residents seek new scenes.
the hunters go to other
grounds, and with them de-
parts considerable cash reve-
nue.. When the soil cover and
leaf litter are removed by fire
the steep slopes wash into the
streams, fill reservoirs, choke
up streams and cause or in
crease the intensity of floods.
Burn the forest year after
year and you burn up the raw
material for forest Industries.
decrease the basis of taxation
and finally end up in paying a
larger tax bill because of your
folly. 1t is an amazing and
sad fact that the public as
sumes greater privileges with
regard to private forest prop
erty than with any other form.
Who would dare to drop a
lighted match on the floor of
your home while no one hap
pened to be about, or set fire to
some Debris or rubbish located
right on a boundary line and
leaning partly against your
shed or barn. 1t may be we'll
to tell the private forest
owner to look after his own in
terests and foot the bill, but be-
fore that is justified we must be
sure that the public will OBJ
serve the fundamentals of good
behavior and common sense by
not trsspassing, or at least by
using proper precautions in
preventing fires.
Taxes paid on forest proper
ties in Maryland during 1882
Appropriated $529,OOO.OO of
which $455, 100000 went to the
various counties and $74,OOO.OO
went to tbs State.
Without q doubt forest pro-
lection against fire is the most
tangible evidence of service
rendered to the forest owner
for his taxes. In 1882, the
cost of protection and fire
fighting in Maryland was about
$4,000, or 1870 of the total
taxes paid to State and Coun-
ties. Out of this amount the
counties paid but $685., or
about 112% of the. $455,OOO,
they received in taxes from the
forests.
Taking into consideration
the fact that the public is re-
sponsible for at least sixty per-
cent of the fires on private for