588 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



"Probably never in the history of Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Califor- 

 nia have the losses from forest fires in the National Forests been more 

 destructive than are now raginj^;, and which threaten, unless checked, to 

 destroy millions of dollars of proi»erty and endanger the lives of our citi- 

 zens. We most earnestly suggest that the national ti'oops located in the 

 above states be at once rushed to the scene of the conflagration and co- 

 operate with the Forestry Service with a view of checking and preventing 

 as far as possible, a recurrence of the terrible menace to the property of 

 this nation. 



"Western Forestry and Conservation Association, representing Mon- 

 tana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California." 



(Signed) A. L. Fle welling, President. 

 (Signed) George M. Cornwall, Secretary. 



In two days President Taft placed at the disposal of the Forest Service 

 officials a sufficient number of troops to assist in the suppression of the forest 

 fires within the confines of the national forests. 



In nearly every instance the troops gave an excellent account of them- 

 selves. Accustomed to discipline and provided with the proper equipment 

 for provisions and means of transportation, I^ncle Sam's boys acquitted them- 

 selves nobly. The officers generally took an interest in the work and instructed 

 their men to take their instructions from the Forest Service officials. There 

 was no clashing of interest. The nation's property was at stake — the soldiers 

 and forest officials were American citizens. They had an interest in its pro- 

 tection. 



Perhaps, in this connection, a letter from C. S. Chapman, now manager 

 and secretary of the Oregon Forest Fire Association and until recently in the 

 Forest Service with headquarters at Portland, may prove of intere.st. 



MR. chapman's letter. 



Mr. Chapman says : 



"In further reference to the matter of use of federal troops in fighting 

 forest fires, last summer while in charge of the national forest district 

 comprising Oregon, Washington and Alaska, the large number of serious 

 fires made it practically impossible to secure sufficient local men to fight 

 them. The federal troops were, therefore, secured in an effort to save 

 valuable timber threatened by fire. These men performed invaluable serv- 

 ices. Not only did they fight fire, but their presence in the country had a 

 very desirable efl'ect. as it led to the belief that a situation requiring federal 

 troops was indeed serious. 



"Many of the boys entering the army are brought up on farms and are 

 used to hard work as well as being of a practical turn of mind. It should 

 be an easy matter to train these men into an efficient fire fighting corps. 

 Last summer's experience with the troops leads me to believe that under 

 the supervision of men skilled in fire fighting they can be used to advantage." 



As a result of the success attending the use of troops as an auxiliary to 

 the Forest Service, a resolution was passed by the Western Forestry and Con- 

 servation Association asking Congress to establish regular filled posts, con- 

 tiguous to the various national forests, and thereby bring the troops within 

 easy range if their services should be required. The legislature of California 

 also passed a re.solution along the same line, the troops having rendered very 

 efficient service in California last year in connection with fires in the national 

 forests in that state. General Wood, chief of staff, opposed the use of the 

 troops for Forest Service duty on the ground that he believes it is subversive 



