RURAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 135 



rural suburbs and in connection with large rural institutions is some- 

 times much greater even than in the comparatively crowded city. 

 One of the most frequent causes of great conflagrations is the start- 

 ing of forest fires, sometimes for agricultural purposes, and at other 

 times as a result of mere carelessness. 



Forest Fires 



In 1908, forest fires raging in the Kootenay Valley district com- 

 pletely destroyed the towns of Fernie and Michel. About 80 lives 

 were lost and 3,000 homeless refugees were forced to seek shelter 

 in other towns. The loss of agricultural property is said to have 

 amounted to about $4,000,000. 



The fires in Northern Ontario in 1911 and 1916 caused severe 

 losses of life and property. The first fire is reported to have resulted 

 in a death roll of over 100 and an estimated property loss of $1,- 

 450,000. Several towns and villages were wiped out by the fire in 

 1916, with the result that about 200 lives were lost and the property 

 loss is alleged to have exceeded $2,000,000. Following the fire at 

 Cochrane the town council drew up a by-law defining fire limits and 

 the class of building therein. 



A missionary, who has spent many years working among the 

 people of Northern Ontario, writes as follows, in March, 1917: 



''Here at Jacksonboro (North Ontario), the American company 

 that is colonizing the land is putting in 40 new families this spring. 

 Many of these have left homesteads elsewhere, and are buying the 

 land at $3.00 an acre in 75 acre lots from this company, making a small 

 payment down. 



"The reason for this is that the company gives the men regular 

 employment summer and winter. To fulfil government conditions 

 they erect a small shack on their lot, which lot is but a mass of cut 

 brush ready for the fire, and leave their wives and children there, 

 while they work either in camps in the winter or at the sawmill in 

 the village in the summer. 



"Finding there was one English-speaking settler, I called on 

 him on a Sunday afternoon. His little one-roomed shack seemed so 

 neat and clean, that my first remark was, 'This is a nice little shack 

 you have.' His reply was, 'Well, it is good enough to be burnt up, 

 as it is sure to be the first dry summer we have.' I said, 'Well, what 

 about the wife and baby?' He replied, 'Oh, the river is only a quar- 

 ter of a mile away and is deep enough to protect them.' She said, 

 'Indeed, I am not going to take any chances, but will go into town 

 when the dry spell comes.' 



"The young doctor of the settlement remarked, 'It seems almost 

 criminal for the government to allow these people to settle in these 



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