ioo North American Forests and Forestry 



systematic firing of the woods it cannot be consid- 

 ered but evidence of low standards of civilization 

 on the part of a population that allows it. 



Where fires are kindled for legitimate purposes, 

 where due precautions are taken in doing so, a care- 

 ful watch kept over them, and, in the case of camp- 

 fires, where they are put out before campers leave 

 the place, there is no need of their doing any in- 

 jury. But, unfortunately, such careful treatment is 

 not very frequent. One would imagine that the 

 settlers, who are going to be the greatest sufferers 

 if the flames get beyond control, would be those 

 most careful in their handling of fire. The con- 

 trary is true. This is a sad commentary on human 

 intelligence, but no doubt can exist of the fact. 

 The settlers themselves are very apt to deny that 

 fires are largely caused by their own negligence. 

 They lay the blame on almost anybody else. Some- 

 times it is the railroads against whom the charge 

 is made ; then again the hunters and fishermen 

 from the city ; where Indians are present they get 

 most of the blame, and the hated tramp never es- 

 capes condemnation. As a matter of fact, the rail- 

 ways used to be very careless about how sparks 

 from their locomotives set fire to brush heaps along 

 the road. But stringent laws were passed in many 

 States requiring them to keep their rights of way 

 clear of debris; heavy judgments for damages caused 

 by their negligence were repeatedly awarded against 

 them, and the railways have learned the lesson. 

 No doubt it is still very common for fires to start 



