FOREST FIRES IN WASHINGTON 



653 



over patches for wild blackberries, or 

 open places wb%fe grass could be grown 

 for pastures. In some instances, it is 

 asserted, parties took the fire plan for 

 getting even with land owners and oth- 

 ers. Again, it is stated that men set fire 

 to timber in order to obtain work, at 30 

 cents an hour, fighting the fires. 



The wasteful methods of logging may- 

 be held responsible for the origin of 

 many fires. Loggers take out market- 

 able timber in the easiest and cheapest 

 way possible. They fell trees in all di- 

 rections and leave the limbs and 

 branches where they fall. They knock 

 down enormous 'quantities of young 

 timber and thereby leave slashings for 

 fire, whether it comes as an accident or 

 for other purposes. No efforts are put 

 forth by the average loggers to guard 

 the property of the land owner or the 

 surrounding citizens. They simply 

 skim off the cream and kick over the 

 bucket to prevent others from securing 

 benefits from the remnants. 



Clearing land by burning slashings is 

 one prolific source of fires. That method 

 appears to me to be an obsolete, dan- 

 gerous, and slovenly way to clear 

 logged-off land. I would not slash and 

 burn any portion of my land, nor permit 

 others to do so. It destroys the soil fer- 

 tility that every farmer needs and must 

 replace at much expense. There is no 

 time gained by resorting to such meth- 

 ods. The slashing burner endangers his 

 own property and that of his neighbors 

 unnecessarily. The only way to prop- 

 erly clear land is to cut the brush and 

 logs, pile in the right condition, and 

 burn under safe restrictions. Our fore- 

 fathers cleared land that way, and they 

 lived and prospered and did not menace 

 others. 



Many valuable lessons may be gleaned 

 from the forest fires of 1910. One of 

 the first is the wise, efficient, and capa- 

 ble system of the United States Forest 

 Service, exemplified in the national for- 

 ests. The plan adopted by that branch 

 of our government for protecting the 

 forests and conserving their resources 

 for use now and in the future, is most 

 commendable. And the men engaged 

 in that department are entitled to all the 

 praise the people of Washington can be- 



stow for their heroic efforts in behalf of 

 the government and the people compris- 

 ing the nation. They make it possible 

 for mature timber to be removed with- 

 out damage to the growing forest, and 

 encourage the spirit of national conser- 

 vation. 



A system of patrol for national, state 

 and private forests, similar to that in- 

 troduced on the reserves, should be 

 adopted everywhere that trees are 

 grown for use, now or hereafter. It is 

 too late to lock the stable door after the 

 horse is stolen. And it is generally too 

 late to stop a forest fire after it is once 

 under good headway. The remedy lies 

 in preventing the blaze in its incipiency. 

 Some men will set forest fires, in un- 

 guarded places, so long as the world 

 stands. Some men will get drunk so 

 long as liquors are manufactured, re- 

 gardless of the wants of their families. 

 We need laws that will curtail the de- 

 structive forces in depraved manhood, 

 in the forest and saloon. 



In Japan the man who plants a tree 

 for posterity is considered a philanthro- 

 pist, while in the United States the man 

 who destroys the native forest, in quest 

 of present money, and is successful, is 

 held up as a capitalist. It is just as 

 sensible for the orchardist to cut down 

 his trees to harvest the fruit as for the 

 logger to waste the young forest in re- 

 moving the marketable timber. The 

 Forest Service is trying to remedy this 

 evil. It should be upheld by every loyal 

 American citizen, and its plans should 

 be adopted everywhere that timber is a 

 commodity. 



The Washington Forest Fire Associ- 

 ation is an important factor in saving 

 the timber of this State. It works in 

 harmony with the warden system, pro- 

 vided for by the state legislature. They 

 cooperate with the timberland owners, 

 and assist materially in preventing fires 

 and stopping the course of those which 

 get from under control of private par- 

 ties. But both organized forces need 

 more assistance from the state and na- 

 tion. They cannot perform impossibili- 

 ties. A fire warden cannot be in many 

 places at the same time. Their powers 



