COOPERATION IN FOREST PROTECTION 



By E. T. ALLEN. 



Editor's Note. — In this article Mr. Allen further develops the cooperative protective 

 idea of which his association is the most striking example, an idea previously set forth 

 by him for American Forestry readers in June of this year. 



eVEN in normal years, the cost to government, states, counties, towns 

 and individuals of protecting life and property in this country from 

 forest fires runs into millions of dollars. In bad years like 1910, it 

 amounts to many millions. This is the cost of the work itself, not including 

 damage by destruction. To a very great extent these expenditures are wasted 

 and the destruction is increased by lack of cooperation ; by duplicated effort 

 and duplicated neglect in the field work itself, by inharmonious policies, and 

 by failure to unite in propaganda and law-making forces strong and numerous 

 enough to be irresistible if united and directed. 



An invaded country meeting the enemy's army with many independent 

 forces, fighting without knowledge of each other's stre'igth and policies and 

 even without attempt at conference and communication, would be regarded 

 with astonishment by the world. It is hard to conceive of a city iii which ex- 

 pensive fire-fighting equipment would be maintained at stations established 

 without reference to each other's location, with the firemen scattered and un- 

 organized, and without means of cooperation in emergencies. To the modern 

 mind even pastimes, such as base ball and foot ball, imply team work and 

 constant study of ideas contributed by every member of the organization. 

 These are but a few familiar illustrations of a principle recognized in almost 

 every line of human endeavor — that intelligent cooperation is immensely 

 more effective than independent inharmonious action by individuals or dis- 

 connected units. No story is more familiar than that of the bundle of fagots 

 which could not be broken until separated; no motto than "in unity there is 

 strength." 



In nothing more than in fire prevention is concerted harmonious effort 

 essential to bring the best results. Nevertheless, with a few notable local ex- 

 ceptions, our several agencies most keenly interested in the subject are still 

 facing its problems pretty much independently. Chief among these agencies 

 are the federal forest service, the progressive element among timber owners, 

 state forest administrations, and factions of public-spirited laymen interested 

 only in community good. In some states only one may be active, in others all 

 may be, but seldom do they act in thorough concert. The stage of mutual 

 distrust and deprecation seems about past, but communion is still mostly 

 confined to occasional conferences where i)apers are read and resolutions are 

 passed. There is little systematized working provision for enabling each 

 agency to profit fully by the interest of the others. 



Leaders of field work experiment with organization systems, equipment 

 and methods, sometimes at frightful cost, because no means exists for learn- 

 ing and applying the experiences of others. Independent patrolmen and fight- 

 ing forces duplicate or conflict in one locality while another goes unguarded. 

 Police authority is exerted with varying interpretation of the law. The most 

 important work of all — teaching all classes not to start fires — is prosecuted 



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