CHAPTER XIV. 



FIEE EISK. 



As the chief argument against the security 

 behind a bond issue, the enemies of timber 

 investments advance the danger from loss by 

 forest fire. In order to fully understand this 

 question it is necessary to know there are four 

 kinds of forest fire, a ground fire, a surface fire, 

 a stand fire and a crown fire. 



A ground fire burns along the floor of the 

 forest, creeping through its carpet and creat- 

 ing immense volumes of thick smoke, which 

 conveys the idea to the observer that the entire 

 forest is burning. These clouds of smoke get 

 so dense that the sun appears in the heavens 

 as an immense disc of fire. The eyes become 

 inflamed and the throat and nose irritated. The 

 great majority of forest fires are in this class. 



The ground fire is practically harmless, but 

 unfortunately for the timber owner, it does 

 create a lot of smoke, and this smoke furnishes 

 the politician — ranger and the newspaper 

 space writer with campaign ammunition. The 

 former for obvious reasons must have fires to 

 cope with. The larger and more numerous the 

 fires the more secure the fire fighters position, 

 and the heavier the appropriations both state 

 and national. The space writer is looking for 

 anything that makes copy and is glad to use 



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