THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY 105 



"If everyone would protect his own lands, it 

 would be a simple matter," you say, and so it would. 

 But who is to require this and how? If I install a 

 system of observation posts and fire fighting ar- 

 rangements for my own property, and my neighbor 

 does not, what is to prevent a fire from gaining 

 headway on his lands and, in spite of all my efforts, 

 overwhelming mine? Community fire protection 

 long ago became the accepted duty of the local gov- 

 ernment, but since forests grow without relation to 

 political boundaries, the responsibility must go 

 higher. 



The United States Government attempts to pro- 

 tect such forests as are under its direct control, and 

 under a provision of the so-called Weeks Act of 

 1911, it also gives monetary aid in forest fire pro- 

 tection to those states which, through a promise to 

 expend an equal amount of their own money show a 

 willingness to cooperate. The law is a step in the 

 right direction, but its successful operation depends 

 upon annual appropriations from Congress, and 

 these have been thoroughly inadequate to carry on 

 the work. In 1921 the Federal Forest Service esti- 

 mated the cost of adequate cooperation in fire pro- 

 tection as about $8,000,000 but, realizing that econ- 

 omy was necessary, asked for an appropriation of 

 only one million. Congress cut down that sum to 



