NOTHS 485 



During 1917 forest fires burned over 962,000 acres of Xational 

 Forest, causing a loss of $1,358,600 to the Government in timber, 

 forage, and young growth. Considering the unusually dangerous con- 

 ditions, this is considered remarkably light loss. Protracted drouth 

 and periods of high winds made the conditions virtually the same as in 

 1910, when many ])ersons were burned to death and 25 million dollars' 

 worth of timber on the National Forests was destroyed. Extra ex- 

 penditures by the Government of $1,121,451 were entailed. 



Of the 7,814 fires which were fought on the National Forests, all but 

 2,132, set by lightning, were caused by human agencies and could have 

 been prevented. There were 952 incendiary fires, which occurred for 

 the most part in Oregon, California, and Arkansas. Careless campers 

 were responsible for 1,288. Railroads, partly through failure to com- 

 ply with the law and use proper spark-arresters, set 1,003. The re- 

 mainder were caused by various forms of carelessness on the part i-f 

 settlers and other users of the National Forests. 



A take-down, readily packed heating stove, devised by a member of 

 the Forest Service in Missoula, ]\lontana, will be tried out in the North 

 Pacific District this spring. The stove is conical in shape, made of 

 sheet iron, like the famous Sibley stove, but in three parts instead of 

 one. The main body is divided longitudinally in two pieces, while the 

 third piece fits over the small end, fastening the whole in position and 

 providing the place for attaching the stove pipe. The stove is made 

 for use on the ground, and has no bottom. The stove is two feet in 

 diameter at the bottom and tapers to six inches at the top, where the 

 pipe is attached. It may be made of any convenient size. A hinged 

 door provides for the insertion of fuel. Draft is obtained by the sim- 

 ple process of digging under the edge of the stove at some point, the 

 draft being regulated by making this opening larger or smaller, as neces- 

 sity requires. 



The Forest Service again co-o])erated with the Weather r.urcau .ast 

 winter in kec])ing a record ot snowfall on the National Forests. Froi^i 

 the (lata so obtained the Weather lUircau is able to approximate strc.-KM- 

 l1()w in the region for the succeeding summer. 



The California Packing Corporation of San Francisco has been 

 awarded the sale of 233,000,000 feet of timber on the Xorval I'lat- 

 AIcCo\- Chance, on the Lassen National Forest. Three bid>^ were re- 



