312 



ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Summary of forest fire statistics, l)y groups of States, for the United States 



(exclusive of Alaska), 1922. 



Group of States. 1 



United States (exclusive of Alaska) 



Northeastern group 



Appalachian group 



Southeastern group 



East Mississippi group 



West Mississippi group 



Lake States group 



Rocky Mountain group 



Pacific group 



Number of fires. 



Total. Percent. 



51, 891 



8,054 

 5,749 

 15, 935 

 1,467 

 9,337 

 2,019 

 3,601 

 6,729 



100 



15.5 



11.1 



30.7 



2.8 



18.0 



3.9 



6.9 



11.1 



Damage. 



Total. Per cent 



$16, 678, 485 



1, 865, 659 

 1,534,825 

 5,727,469 



467, 890 

 1, 956, 707 

 1,199,459 



844,925 

 3,081,551 



100 



11.2 

 9.2 



34.3 

 2.8 



11.7 

 7.2 

 5.1 



18.5 



Forest land burned. 



Total. Per cent, 



Acres. 

 8, 194, 189 



298,315 

 693,629 



4, 515, 061 

 210, 724 



1, 377, 502 

 333, 228 

 152, 061 

 613, 669 



100 



3.6 

 8.5 



55.1 

 2.6 



16.8 

 4.1 

 1.8 

 7.5 



1 Northeastern group: New England States, New York, and New Jersey. 

 Appalacliian group: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. 

 Southeastern group: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. 

 East Mississippi group: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. 

 West Mississippi group: Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. 

 Lake States group: Miciiigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 



Rocky Mountain group: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, 

 Nevada, and Utah. 

 Pacific group: Washington, Oregon, and California. 



In addition to the direct loss which can be measured in dollars and 

 cents, as given in the preceding table, there is an enormous loss of an 

 indirect and intangible nature from the subsequent decay of fire- 

 damaged timber, destruction of young tree growth, soil deterioration, 

 erosion interfering with navigability of streams and the development 

 of water power, damage from floods, destruction of wild life, impair- 

 ment of recreational values, and similar consequences. 



The total expenditure for protecting forest lands outside of 

 Federal holdings is approximately $3,300,000 a year, of which States 

 pay $1,900,000, private owners $1,000,000, and the Federal Govern- 

 ment $400,000. The expenditures by private owners of forest land 

 often materiall}^ exceed the amount indicated in years of special 

 danger. About 40 per cent of the total expenditure is in the North- 

 east, 20 per cent in the Lake States, 30 per cent in the far West, and 

 10 per cent in the South. All told, the amount is a little more than 

 one-third that necessary for adequate protection. Since it is ex- 

 pended on approximately one half of our State and private forest 

 lands, in many instances they receive but partial protection, while 

 the other half receives no organized protection whatever. Without 

 the complete and adequate protection of privately owned forest 

 lands there can be no hope for the production of a continuous yield 

 of timber. Even where economic conditions make it practicable for 

 private owners to grow timber crops, they are often hesitating be- 

 cause of the fire hazard and particularly the menace of fire from 

 adjoining lands. Unless private owners can be assured of reasonably 

 adequate protection they can scarcely be expected to keep their cut- 

 over lands in a condition of productiveness. The private forest 

 owner should be given a chance. 



Like other big national undertakings, such as road improvement 

 and agricultural extension, the protection of our forests can best be 



