286 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: MONTHLY BULLETIN 



trails or roads to make certain lands quickly accessible. There 

 should be instituted measures which will reduce the inflammability 

 of the woodlands. This may consist in the disposal of the slash after 

 logging, if it can be shown that it constitutes a fire hazard. It is es- 

 pecially desirable that such slash be disposed of along railroads and 

 highways where there is grave danger of it becoming ignited. It 

 may be desirable in certain cases to keep strips along the right of 

 way cleared of dead weeds, dry grass, etc., when it constitutes a 

 menace to the woodlands beyond. 



Educational campaign necessary. There is need also for a 

 campaign of education in disseminating information relative to the 

 destruction caused by forest fires and the danger of their occur- 

 rence. There should be close cooperation in their suppression on 

 the part of every citizen. There is a further need for law enforce- 

 ment, and those guilty of starting destructive fires, whether by 

 carelessness or intent, should be punished. The expense of forest 

 fire protection should be borne by the State. It is a form of subsidy 

 which will prove to be a good investment. The communal interest 

 in the forest is greater than that of the individual. 



There are many who do not know that destructive forest fires 

 occur in Ohio because they are confined to relatively few counties. 

 Over the greater portion of the State the woodlands are not menaced 

 by fire and it is relatively rare that they burn over. In some of the 

 Ohio River counties, however, are large contiguous areas of forest 

 some of which may virtually be classed as wild or semi-wild land, 

 which, because of its inherent character will form the future timber 

 reservoir of the State. It is here that fire constitutes the single 

 greatest menace, and without a system for its prevention these 

 areas will for want of protection become the "dessert of Ohio." 



The Federal Government under the Weeks Law is enabled to 

 give assistance to states in forest fire protection. Under the pro- 

 visions of this law the Federal Government will match, dollar for 

 dollar, the expenditures made by the states, for that purpose, con- 

 tingent of course upon the funds made available by Congressional 

 appropriation. Before a state can enter into cooperation with the 

 Federal Government under the Weeks Law, it must enact satis- 

 factory forest fire laws and have an approved system of control in 

 operation. The U. S. Forest Service will request an appropriation 

 of $1,000,000 for state cooperation for the next biennial period. It 

 is hoped that Ohio may enact the necessary legislation and thus be 

 enabled to enter into cooperation with the Federal Government in 

 checking the greatest enemy to forest restoration. 



