294 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY. 



In 1911 on the national forests a little under .4 of 1 per cent of the 

 total area burned over. While this percentage is nearly twice as great as 

 more intensive methods in Prussia permitted, it is 50 times better than 

 the estimated average during the past half century in the whole country. 

 It is impossible, of course, to estimate the probable damage which would 

 result in any year with no protection. The fire losses within the national 

 forests in 1911 are estimated at $209,761 for the timber and $182,362 for 

 the young growth and forage. Judging from the extensive old burns 

 within the areas now embraced within the national forests the organized 

 fire fighting machine now operating within them is yearly saving very 

 many times its cost. 



STATE AND OTHER ACTIVITY. 



Following the example of the federal government several of the more 

 progressive states have recently adopted somewhat similar methods of fire 

 protection. Among these states notably are New York, Pennsylvania, New 

 Jersey, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- 

 sota, Oregon, Washington, and California. 



In a few of the heaviest timbered states of the Northwest from Mon- 

 tana westward to and along the Pacific Coast, the larger private owners of 

 timber lands have organized timber protective "associations within the past 

 few years. These associations employ patrol men and provide an organi- 

 zation for controlling fires as soon as they break out. During the past 

 year several very extensive owners, including some of the great railroads 

 of the West, have placed their timbered property under the protection of 

 these associations. The members of an association are voluntarily assessed 

 usually from 2 to 4 cents per acre annually to pay for manning and equip- 

 ping a force of firemen engaged for the summer season, with a few of 

 the chief officers, mostly foresters, engaged for the whole year. 



THE WEEKS LAW. 



In order to further stimulate the movement for forest protection 

 among all states, a section of the Weeks law, passed by Congress in 1910, 

 provides for an appropriation of $200,000 from the federal treasury to be 

 apportioned to qualifying states possessing watersheds of navigable 

 streams. Like a Carnegie library gift, there is required a certain ex- 

 penditure upon the part of the recipient, and specific terms must be com- 

 plied with. The beneficiary states must organize an effective fire patrol 

 and contribute a sum for its maintenance as great, at least, as that given 

 by the federal government, which will not give more than $10,000 to any 

 one state during a single year. 



With this federal assistance and with the cooperation of the larger 

 owners of timberlands, many states could, with a state appropriation 

 amounting to 1 cent per acre of timbered lands, effect a fairly good sys- 

 tem of fire patrol, which would annually save many times its cost of main- 

 tenance. 



