1 903 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 463 



ers, threatened to destroy Binghamton, flames, which were under control in 



a mining town 25 miles south of Salt two days. For the next two months, 



Lake City, on August 3. It was feared or until the heavy winter rains set in, 



that the town would be destroyed, but the San Gabriel and San Bernardino 



a force of 300 miners succeeded in turn- Forest Reserves, on whose safety the 



ing the flames away from the town, and permanency of the water supply of 



later extinguished the blaze before it southern California depends, will be in 



did much damage. constant danger from fire. A continu- 



Oregon. On August 15 the Asso- ation of the differences of last year be- 



ciated Press reported a forest fire which tween the state and government rangers, 



had destroyed millions of feet of timber, according to newspaper reports, dis- 



and was threatening saw-mills and gracefully marked the progress of the 



ranches in the mountains near Sparta, fires which burned in and near the Yo- 



not far from Baker City. The fire had Semite National Park. For several 



been burning for a week when first re- weeks prior to August 4 fires had been 



ported, and reached serious proportions burning near that gateway to the park 



on the 1 5th. At that time it was still guarded by El Capitan and Cathedral 



spreading its area, and unless checked rocks. Both state and government 



threatened the timber on the whole Cor- forces claimed that a fire near Glacier 



nucopia Range. Point was in the other's jurisdiction, 



Washington. The first forest fires with the result that the flames pro- 

 of the season reported in Snohomish gressed unchecked for some time. Then 

 county occurred July 24, and at that when state and government lands were 

 time had crossed the boundary line from both damaged, the fire fighters the 

 Kings county and were traveling north park guardian with his troops and the 

 through heavily timbered country. In- state fire wardens got to work, only 

 structions were sent to deputy game after considerable damage had been 

 wardens by the county commissioners done which might have been averted in 

 to secure as many men as possible and the first place if the fires had been fought 

 check the flames. This was done, and in the interests of all, regardless of where 

 the damage reported at that time was they were. Both sides seem to have 

 slight. Later fire destroyed the Wheeler- been at fault, for both withheld aid 

 Osgood Company's plant at Everett, while the fire was burning. Consider- 

 causing a loss of about $30,000, of able damage was done to the pine and 

 which $15,000 was insured. This was oak groves which cover the mountains, 

 the second time that fire swept through On August 4 Alden L. Youngman, of 

 the plant in the past few months. The Glen Ellen, brought suit against the 

 company will probably not rebuild at Southern Pacific Company for $2,700 

 Everett, but will consolidate its interests damages sustained by a fire which de- 

 at Tacoma, where it is already estab- vastated his property a year ago. It is 

 lished. On August 18 a forest fire alleged that the fire was started by a 

 burned near Elk, 25 miles north of Spo- locomotive of the defendant corpora- 

 kane, covering nearly 1,000 acres in a tion. The outcome of this suit will 

 tract of burned-over pine and cedar. have a bearing on the attitude of rail- 

 For four days more than i oo men fought ways toward fires started by their en- 

 the fire, but could not control it, and gines or employes, and will be important 

 the latest reports were that 12,000,000 from the fact that at least one-half of 

 feet of timber had been destroyed. the forest fires now occurring in the 



California. The first serious fire of country are directly due to railroads, 



the summer in the San Gabriel Reserve Several hundred men battled with a fire 



occurred on the Prairie Fork of the San in the neighborhood of Relief Hill, near 



Gabriel River, north of Baldy and 3 Nevada City, for four days, and then 



miles from the Big Horn mine, on July did not have it under control. By July 



30. Thirty rangers were immediately 9 it had burned over 5 square miles of 



concentrated at the spot and, aided by timber land, and was still burning. 



20 men from the mines, fought the Much cut lumber was also destroyed by 



