WASHINGTON FOREST FIRE ASSOCIATION :: :: Nine 



it does into over one and a quarter billion feet for the decade of 

 which nearly one-half billion feet appears to be a total loss the 

 average per annum is comparatively small. 



A fair estimate of the amount of standing timber in Western 

 Washington, outside of the National Forests, is one hundred and fifty 

 billions of feet, and the actual fire loss of forty-six million feet 

 annually is only 3/100 of one per cent of the present stand. 



There are no statistics available from which a reliable estimate 

 of fire losses to timber prior to the organization of this Association 

 can be computed, and consequently no comparison can be made with 

 an earlier period. It is well known, however, that forest fires de- 

 stroyed billions of feet of timber in Washington during the decade 

 1898-1907. 



Our splendid forests constitute the greatest asset of the State. 

 In some of the Counties half of the wealth is represented by its tim- 

 ber. As an illustration it may be mentioned that in Clallam County 

 63 per cent of all taxable property carried on the tax rolls appears 

 under classification of timber lands. In Mason County 62 per cent; 

 Jefferson, 52 per cent; Pacific, 48 per cent; Grays Harbor, 44 per 

 cent; Cowlitz, 44 1 per cent; Wahkiakum, 42 per cent; Skamania, 42 

 per cent; Lewis, 35 per cent; Skagit 21 per cent. 



The prosperity of Western Washington depends upon the forests 

 and the importance of providing ample protection for this great re- 

 source is clearly apparent. 



O. BYSTROM, Secretary. 



