A METHOD OF ASSESSING FIRE DAMAGES IN THE 

 SOUTHWEST. 



By Robert Rogers and Barrington AIoore. 



The methods of assessing forest fire damage which have so far 

 been employed in the West have, from a technical standpoint, 

 been far from satisfactory. It is not the intention here to go into 

 a discussion of past methods or the principles of this important 

 subject, but rather to present a detailed statement of a suggested 

 method for finding the value of forest products destroyed by fire 

 in the Southwest. This method has been devised by the writers 

 in connection with their work in District III of the U. S. Forest 

 Service, and is published here purely as a personal article, not 

 with the claim that it is an entirely satisfactory method, but rather 

 in the hope that it may constitute a progressive step which will 

 not only serve in practical application, but also in securing recog- 

 nition in the courts of the inherent forestry principles involved, 

 in the valuation of the forest as a growing crop. It will have 

 served a purpose if it starts at least discussion of this important 

 subject. 



We are badly hampered to-day, of course, on account of the 

 lack of silvical data, and this fact has influenced the shaping of 

 the plan herewith presented. The aim has been to take the data 

 available, and secure a method embodying forest principles cap- 

 able of application. The interest rate used, it is felt, should con- 

 form as nearly as possible to the interest rate of the locality. 

 However, if the principles are accepted the adjustment of the 

 interest rate is a minor consideration. 



It will be noted that an estimate of an increase of ioo% in the 

 stumpage rates at the end of a twenty year period has been used. 

 It will be agreed, we believe, that in valuations of this character it 

 is only right that a certain increase should be considered. Just 

 what this increase should be in each case should be determined 

 by a careful study of the particular region concerned. The 

 whole subject of estimated future increase in stumpage cannot 

 be properly considered in the space at command here. Suffice it 

 to say that considering an average valuation of $3.00 per M. ft. 



