134 Proce:e:dings o^ the: 



the sheltering shade of the fir it soon dies and decays. 



There has been no systematic effort in the direction 

 of tree planting in this section, the aim being rather 

 to preserve the standing timber from forest fires and 

 waste in cutting. Two years ago the writer took up the 

 matter of an effective forest fire law, and the result 

 was the passage of an act by the legislature of the 

 State of Washington making it a penalty to set fires 

 during the closed season, without permits from the 

 county commissioners. The law has worked very well, 

 but it is in need of enforcement, and to this end it is 

 quite probable a State fire warden will be appointed at 

 the coming session of the legislature. Oregon and 

 Montana are also awake to the needs of ample forest 

 fire protection and will probably enact proper laws 

 before long. 



The waste in the woods and mills amount annually 

 to about 25 per cent. ; or, in other words, about 

 1,000,000,000 feet per annum is burned in the woods 

 or the refuse burners, because there is no market 

 available for the by-products. This is equivalent to 

 100,000 dwellings. Distance from market and prohibi- 

 tive freights are responsible for this waste. For 

 example, the Missouri River territory, composed of 

 Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, consume an- 

 nually 162,000 car loads of lumber products, of which 

 the Pacific coast contributes 9,165 car loads annually, 

 and although the difference in the haul from Portland 

 to St. Paul and Omaha is only one mile, it costs $15 

 per 1,000 freight on lumber sold at the mill for $5 to 

 ship same to Omaha, as against $12 per 1,000 feet to 

 St. Paul. Consequently the side lumber is burned. 



Forestry is practicable in the Pacific Northwest. 

 The standing timber is its greatest crop — a crop that 

 can be harvested at any time, and is not dependent on 



