586 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



are each year added to reach out of the way points, and as a precautionary 

 measure few things exceed in importance the telephone systems. 



STATE AID A STIMULUS 



The last session of the legislature passed a most excellent forest fire law, 

 carrying with it an appropriation of $60,000 for the two years, and creating a 

 state board of forestry and the office of state forester. Previously, while a law 

 good in its provisions had been on the statute books, there had been no funds 

 for its enforcement and it speedily fell into disrepute. One of the first things 

 to accomplish under the new law was to instil into the minds of the people a 

 wholesome respect for its provisions. This is being accomplished through the 

 efforts of the state forester and his deputies. Burning dangerous slashings 

 without permit, or the leaving of burning camp fires, is no longer tolerated, 

 and careless citizens are promptly brought to justice. The law is not intended 

 to hamper the rancher who wants to clear his land during the summer, the 

 camper who gets his vacation in the mountains, nor the logger who through 

 his operations is furnishing labor for hundreds of people. It is intended, how- 

 ever, that all parties in the timbered sections use such precautions as will 

 prevent fires starting. This can be done without extra cost or inconvenience 

 and is necessary in order that destruction of property and possibly loss of 

 human life shall not result. 



The support and interest of the state has proven a decided stimulus to 

 forest protection in Oregon. Timber owners no longer feel that they are 

 alone in their fight against carelessness in the use of fire. There is every 

 reason why states and counties, as well as the federal government, should aid 

 very materially in preventing the needless destruction of standing timber, 

 since it pays a large proportion of the taxes and is a resource which con- 

 tributes very largely toward the upbuilding of the country. Forest fires in 

 their results can truly be likened to the pests attacking our fruit trees or 

 vegetables, or diseases making inroads on our live stock industry. Let these 

 latter things happen and the states and counties take immediate steps to 

 remedy the evil. But our timber, so long a drug on the market, has not yet 

 been fully appreciated as an enormous factor in the upbuilding of the state. 

 ^^Tien its importance is realized Oregon will feel warranted in appropriating 

 not thousands but hundreds of thousands of dollars to safeguard its greatest 

 resource, the timber. 



