34 



Forest Service in preventing and suppressing fires - 

 "The number of fires have apparently increased because 

 fewer fires escape discovery in recent years, and more 

 are fought when discovered. This is shown by the num- 

 bers of lightning fires reported, for example. 



"Man fires have incressed because population and 

 humand activity have increased. Except in four bad 

 years there has been a decrease in the total area burned 

 over. There has been a great general decrease in the 

 average size of fires. Costs have naturally increased 

 due to increased wages and cost of equipment and sup- 

 plies. 



"Total annual loss and costs averaged $369, 900- 00. 

 If this Slim be charged as insurance against the value 

 protected of merely the timber alone (not considering 

 forage, etc.) appraised at 183,331.4-38.00 in 1912, the 

 rate of insurance is only 2/10 of 1%. 



"From 1908-1918, an average of 70,088 acres of 

 timber burned over annually, or .9 of 1% of the total 

 timbered are inside bounds. For the past 8 years, 

 since improved methods of fire fighting were inaugur- 

 ated, the avieeage has been 49,312 acres, or O.63 of 

 ife. This would permit a trotation of IIO-160 years be- 

 tween destructive fires. Fire history shows that prior 

 to any active protective measures, the average period 

 between fires was only 8 years. 



"We have not succeeded in preventing fires or 

 fire damage. Increasing efficiency of the system is 



