Protection of the Yellowstone Park 



was in extreme length nearly six miles, and in 

 breadth from a few feet in some places to near 

 a mile in others. 



A fire in pine woods may be successfully 

 fought so long as it is kept confined to the 

 ground, but once it gets a start in the tree 

 tops no power on earth can cope with it ; no 

 effort is of the slightest avail. Campers who 

 leave their fires unextinguished often make 

 the excuse that they did not believe any dam- 

 age could result, as the coals were nearly dead. 

 Although such might be the case at the hour 

 of their leaving, in the still air of morning, the 

 afternoon wind is quite capable of blowing 

 them into dangerous and destructive life. My 

 rule has been to insist on the rigorous enforce- 

 ment of the regulation requiring expulsion 

 from the Park in such cases. One or two 

 expulsions each year serve as healthy warn- 

 ings, and these, backed by a system of numer- 

 ous and vigilant patrols, have brought about 

 the particularly good results of which we can 

 boast. In 1892 a fire on Moose Creek was 

 sighted from a point near the Lake, and re- 

 ported to me that night by wire from the 

 Lake Hotel. Before the next evening, Cap- 

 tain Scott was on the spot with his troop, and 



393 



