PRESENT FIRE SEASON ON NATIONAL FORESTS 535 



Further south, in California, which The notable success of the Chicago, 



forms District 5, 154 fires have been re- Milwaukee, and Puget Sound Railway 



ported up to July 20. These burned in keeping down forest fire loss is due 



over a total of about 6,000 acres, of to the use of oil-burning locomotives, 



which one of 4,000 and another of 953 Their adoption by other roads will 



acres, both on Kern River, did the prin- greatly lessen the fires in any forested 



cipal damage. While the weather con- country. 



ditions during the early part of the sea- Up to June 20, 38 fires occurred 



son greatly reduced the fire danger, the within the National Forests of Michi- 



recent reports indicate that it is in- gan, Northern Idaho, North Dakota and 



creasing, nearly one-half of all the fires Montana. These burned over about 



having occurred in the last week re- 2,500 acres, of which less than 80 acres 



ported. As yet, however, the damage were covered with merchantable timber, 



has not been great, and the fire or- Twenty of these fires were started by 



ganization is working splendidly. railroad locomotives, 10 by campers, 1 



In District 1, which includes Michi- from careless brush burning, 1 by in- 

 gan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Mon- cendiarism, and the rest were of un- 

 tana, and northern Idaho, the weather known origin. Since then about the 

 conditions during June were again con- same number of fires, mostly small ones, 

 ducive to safety for the forests. The have been reported ; one, however, 

 dry weather in the first part of May covered 331 acres. So far weather con- 

 resulted in a number of small fires, all ditions have been good, yet it is not ex- 

 of which were easily controlled. In pected that the whole season will be 

 these States there is a marked tendency passed without some considerable losses, 

 on the part of lumbermen, railroads, and Much will depend upon rains and the 

 timberland owners to improve the fire continued co-operation of the public, 

 situation by taking care of slashings and especially the campers and the railroads, 

 railroad rights of way. The Northern In the central Rocky Mountain re- 

 Pacific Railroad Company has adopted gion, District 2, a late spring with fre- 

 systematic clearing of its rights of way, quent rains has up to the present time 

 which will materially lessen the fire been instrumental in holding down fire 

 hazard. The Great Northern and the loss to a gratifyingly small amount. 

 Oregon-Washington Railroad and Nayi- About 50 fires, mostly small ones, have 

 gation Company have signified their in- occurred, but the damage has been 

 tention of doing likewise. The North- negligible. 



ern Pacific has turned over its holdings A grass fire burned over nearly 31,000 



in northern Idaho within the National acres within the Nebraska National 



Forests to the protection afforded by Forest, but as is well known, this is 



the timber protective associations. This in the barren sandhill region and is 



will greatly strengthen the protective only prospective timberland, since the 



work in Idaho. most of the Forest is yet to be planted 



An agreement between Montana and to trees. 



the Forest Service, now in preparation, Arizona and New Mexico, in District 



provides for the protection of State 3, up to the present time have suffered 



lands within and contiguous to the For- most, except for the crown fire on the 



ests, and relieves the Service of the Olympic in Washington. Reporting last 



patrol of districts containing large tracts on July 16, the District Forester states 



of State timberland, thus permitting that 236 fires have occurred, burning 



more intensive patrol by the Service in over altogether 46,840 acres, and neces- 



sections hitherto inadequately pro- sitating an expense for fighting them of 



tected. about $5,000, exclusive of salaries of 



Idaho and Montana are expecting to Forest officers. 



secure funds under the Weeks law to The most serious fire was in the 



augment their share in protecting tim- Sitgreaves National Forest, in east- 



berlands. Altogether, the situation in central Arizona, where lightning set a 



this District is much improved over fire which spread lightly over 22,560 



previous years. acres, consuming the forest litter and 



