THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 103 



otherwise have swept the country and caused a disaster prob- 

 ably unparalleled in American history. 



REFORESTATION AS A FIRE PREVENTATIVE 



However progressive the preventive policies adopted, the 

 race between them and the increasing sources of hazard re- 

 sembles that between armor plate and ordnance in the con- 

 struction of battleships. While for a given population en- 

 gaged in pursuits endangering the forests the risk lessens, the 

 total activity increases at a rate which makes the smaller 

 proportionate risk as great in actual measure. This is par- 

 ticularly true of the growth of slashing areas. The virgin 

 forest becomes more and more and checkered by burned and 

 cut-over deadenings, veritable fire-traps open to sun and wind, 

 and, especially west of the Cascades, usually covered by inflam- 

 mable debris, brush or dead ferns. Each year brings nearer 

 the time when, unless something is done, such will constitute 

 the majority of once forested land and the uncut timber will 

 remain like islands in expanses of extreme danger. 



Next to cultivation, which but a small percentage will re- 

 ceive, the safest insurance against recurring fires in these cut- 

 over areas is a thrifty young second growth. It shades the 

 ground, keeps out annual vegetation that furnishes fuel when 

 dead, and will itself carry none but such furious crown-fires 

 as would be practically unknown were there no openings for 

 them to gain headway in. This is less true of pine, but the 

 very best protection which can be given a tract of merchant- 

 able fir is a strip of 10 to 50-year second growth surround- 

 ing it. 



Whether regarded from the owner's standpoint or that 

 of the public, reforestation should be considered as a protec- 

 tive measure of extreme importance. Actual expenditure to 

 obtain it may easily be profitable for this reason alone, for 

 once established it will decrease the cost of patrol thereafter. 

 Were all cut-over land in the Northwest immediately re- 

 stocked, the fire hazard would be enormously reduced. 



