594 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



not come into court with clean hands that sufferers have come 

 to believe that such disasters are unavoidable. 



It should be the practice of forestry associations to disseminate 

 wholesome instruction on this head, and to present practicable 

 plans for meeting the difficulties of the situation. Whatever the 

 remedy suggested, it should ever be borne in mind that the 

 owner of forest property, and especially corporations, have pur- 

 chased for the purpose of converting the timber into money in 

 the cheapest and most rapid manner possible, and that they are, 

 as a rule, indifferent to the future of the region. They must also 

 inculcate the principle that no legislation is effective, unless well- 

 organized machinery is provided for its enforcement. 



The mere holding of a man or a railroad liable in damages 

 for such acts of carelessness and indifference as I have mentioned, 

 and for setting fire to woods, is not sufficient. Infraction of the 

 law should be made a criminal offense, punishable by the severest 

 penalties. It should be made the duty of counties and town- 

 ships to appoint fire wardens, as is provided in Pennsylvania and 

 Maine paid officials, who should exercise a vigilant watchful- 

 ness, and use extra precautions in exceptionally dry seasons. At 

 such times the town should take upon itself the work of clear- 

 ing away litter and all combustible material that add to the dan- 

 ger of fire. These should be burned or got rid of under constant 

 inspection, at a time when the fire is not likely to spread. In 

 case of a conflagration started, the wardens should be empowered 

 when necessary to summon assistance. In France safety belts of 

 trees not readily burned are planted on each side of the railway 

 track where it passes through a pine forest. Roads, trenches, 

 and cleared spaces are also so constructed as to prove a safe- 

 guard ; the cost is paid partly by the authorities and partly by 

 the landowners. Heavy penalties are imposed for kindling fires 

 within certain prescribed limits. 



Among many suggestions for a forest policy in the older 

 States, that for Pennsylvania commends itself, in a bill now be- 

 fore the Legislature of that State. It provides that the Gov- 

 ernor shall appoint a commission of two persons a competent 

 engineer and a practical botanist who shall examine and report 

 upon the important watersheds of the State, for the purpose of 

 determining how far the presence or absence of the forest cover- 

 ing may affect the water supply; also the amount of standing 

 timber, and a measure for securing timber supply in the future. 

 The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, in recommending the 

 bill, points out the fact that the vast forests once covering all the 

 head waters of the principal streams are nearly gone ; the splen- 

 did oak and other timber is almost exhausted ; fires destroy two 

 million dollars' worth of timber each year ; timber thieves escape 



