712 Canadian Forestry Journal, September, ipi6 



What the Settlers ' Permit Plan 

 Actually Accomplishes 



The Testimony of Hon. Jules Allard ; E. T. Allen, of 

 Portland, Ore.; the B.C. Forest Service and Others 



That settlers' clearing fires have been responsible for incalculable for- 

 est losses in most of the forested provinces is a fact recognized by the Gov- 

 ernments of British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, 

 and indeed by the prairie provinces, and laws have been passed to bring 

 private burning operations under official control. 



Ontario, however, has paid little heed to these evidences of progress 

 on the part of its neighbors, so that the holocausts of 1911 and 1916 in the 

 North country (having their origin in settlers' fires), were allowed to pass 

 without any assurance of improved laws and administration. The storm 

 of protest from the Ontario newspapers and many public bodies cannot but 

 have its efifect. Indeed, it is not too much to predict that the next session 

 of the Legislature may witness a new law providing for control of settlers' 

 fires. If such a law is supported by an administrative system radically 

 altered from the present outworn idea, the Province of Ontario will begin 

 to experience the benefits of a genuine scheme of fire prevention, certain to 

 save hundreds of lives, and millions' worth of property. 



Following are some concise testimonies to the usefulness of burning 

 permits in other parts of Canada and the United States: 



Quebec's Experience. 



"After a careful study of the question," writes Hon. Jules Allard, Min- 

 ister of Lands and Forests, under date of August 29th, 1916: "We came to 

 the conclusion that the most efficient means to protect the forests from dam-, 

 ages caused by fires set by settlers in their clearings, at the same time foster- 

 ing the agricultural development of our Province, was the Permit System. 



"This year, although we have not yet received all the reports, I can 

 safely say there must have been over 2,500 permits granted. There has 

 been no damage caused by fire for clearing purpose made in virtue of these 

 permits." 



In the Western States. 



A letter to the Secretary of the Canadian Forestry Association from 

 E. T. Allen, Forester of the Western Forestry and Conservation Associa- 

 tion, which administers a thorough forest protection system in the Pacific 

 North-western States, carrying on a vigorous and successful educational 

 work as an auxiliary, contains the following important statements, under 

 date of August 29, 1916: 



"I can testify very gladly that in our Pacific Ngrth-western States the 

 burning permit is as accepted a part of fire prevention as patrol or fire 

 fighting. None considers abandoning it. Its eft'ectiveness comes in 

 many ways besides through direct prohibition, enforcement and penalty. It 

 affords a means of keeping settlers and forest officers acquainted and in 

 touch.. It pleases the settler because ivhen he receives a permit and complies 

 tvith its terms he is fairly immune from trouble if his fire becomes unruly. He 

 has largely shifted the responsibility. 



