60 THE SCHOOL BOOK OP FORESTRY 



favorable years to several million in particularly- 

 bad fire seasons. During the last few years, due 

 to efficient fire-fighting methods, the annual 

 losses have been steadily reduced. 



The best way of fighting forest fires is to pre- 

 vent them. The forest officers do their best to 

 reduce the chances for fire outbreak in the Gov- 

 ernment woodlands. They give away much dead 

 timber that either has fallen or still is standing. 

 Lumbermen who hold contracts to cut timber in 

 the National Forest are required to pile and burn 

 all the slashings. Dry grass is a serious fire men- 

 ace. That is why grazing is encouraged in the 

 forests. Eangers patrol the principal automo- 

 bile roads to see that careless campers and tour- 

 ists have not left burning campfires. Railroads 

 are required to equip their locomotives with 

 spark-arresters. They also are obliged to keep 

 their rights of way free of material which burns 

 readily. Spark-arresters are required also on 

 logging engines. 



The National and State Forests are posted 

 with signs and notices asking the campers and 

 tourists to be careful with campfires, tobacco and 

 matches. Advertisements are run in newspapers, 

 warning people to be careful so as not to set fire 



