1226 A NATIONAL PLAN FOB AMERICAN FORESTRY 



In most forested States little or no regulation against trespass is 

 exercised by the private forest owner against the public which comes 

 to use and enjoy his lands. Such public use carries with it dangers 

 over which the owner alone has little control, and since the public 

 has the enjoyment, it is justifiable for the public to pay for such 

 abuse as may result. Carelessness with fire constitutes the chief 

 danger and abuse, and it thus becomes a proper function of the State 

 to extend aid not only to reduce this community hazard by legislation 

 and police 1 functions directed at the origin of forest fires, but also 

 to aid the landowners in the costs of fire patrol and suppression. 



CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH 



The geographical distribution of taxable wealth within individual 

 States is very unequal. Therefore State aid becomes highly necessary 

 as a stabilizer of State-wide development and prosperity. This fact 

 is most strikingly evident in States having large areas of cut-over lands. 

 Many counties once rich in valuable stands of timber, saw mills, lum- 

 bering communities, and forest pay rolls are now poor. Although they 

 once produced a large portion of the State's revenues and contributed 

 materially to its prosperity, they are now unable to carry on their 

 own functions, and must have State aid. t The burden is therefore 

 shared by the industrial centers and counties that have succeeded to 

 greater wealth and prosperity. The fullest recognition of this factor 

 of State aid is seen today in those northern and eastern States which 

 were earliest cut over and which are now great centers of wealth 

 and industrial development in other lines. 



RELATIVE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF FIRES 



One of the most important factors affecting State interest and aid 

 is the extent to which forest fires endanger and destroy life and prop- 

 erty. The damaging effects of fire differ greatly in different regions. 

 For example, holocausts have occurred in the Lake and Western 

 States. Towns have been wiped out, people burned to death, game 

 destroyed, and whole stands of merchantable timber killed. The 

 fire danger is so great in these regions and so seriously affects the life 

 and prosperity of citizens and the welfare of the States as a whole, 

 that public safeguards are generally recognized as essential. 



Fire in the Southern States, on the other hand, seldom causes loss 

 of life, and damage resulting from fires occurring during certain sea- 

 sons of the year is often not readily apparent. In regions where 

 fires do less visible damage, the people feel less need for taking public 

 action than those in States of greater fire danger. Here the damaging 

 effects of fire become a relatively less important factor of State 

 concern and action. 



The importance of fire protection has been particularly stressed 

 because it is one of the most pressing forestry problems and practically 

 all other field work in forestry is dependent for successful achieve- 

 ment upon the adequate control of fire. However, if States are 

 earnestly concerned in prompting forest practices on privately owned 

 lands they should not stop with fire protection. Both financial and 

 legislative action needs to be provided by the States for other im- 

 portant forestry work such as forest insect and disease control, forest 



