FlPTH NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESS 267 



In commenting upon the work of the various agencies engaged in fire preven- 

 tion the effect of the "Weeks Law" should not be overlooked. This law, pro- 

 viding as it does for Federal assistance to States in patrolling the headwaters of 

 navigable streams, has had a widespread beneficial influence. The funds expended 

 have stimulated the various States to greater activity, and much young timber 

 heretofore ignored is being kept in such condition that it can de-velop into a 

 valuable crop. To be effective, forest protection work and forest legislation must 

 not be confined to present-day needs, but must, in some degree at least, look to 

 the future benefits which will result from the efforts of the present generation. 



This report will endeavor to deal most thoroughly with those States having 

 much at stake in preventing fire, and it will be its aim, based upon the experience 

 of those who have devoted the most time to study of protection methods, to point 

 out impartially where weakness or strength lies, to the extent of the information 

 available. 



BRIEF HISTORY OF FOREST PROTECTION 



FOREST Service Bulletin, No. 117, "Forest P'ires," contains reference 

 to cases which seem to prove that forest fires have occurred ever since 

 there were forests. 



That people residing in wooded districts have had to fight fires and take 

 precautions against being destroyed by them during all past times is evident. But 

 during the pioneer days in our own country the common means of preventing 

 destruction of life and property by fire was to destroy the timber by burning, 

 and, consequently, early efforts were all to prevent destruction of houses and 

 crops at the expense of the timber, and not to protect the timber itself. Efforts 

 looking to forest protection in this country, therefore, date but a few years back, 

 and well within the memory of the present generation. 



The first direct and general movement towards forest protection was that 

 looking to the creation of national forests in 1891, and the subsequent action of 

 Congress in 1897, providing for the administration of lands set aside by the 

 President. 



That forest destruction was a matter for serious consideration long before 

 the dates above given is seen by the fact in the 10th U. S. Census Report. Prof. 

 C. S. Sargent presented a compilation of statistics covering fire damage in the 

 United States. 



In 1891 the Division of Forestry, Department of Agriculture, collected 

 statistics which, though incomplete, showed that during that year 12,000,000 

 acres of forest land had been burned over. 



New York State as early as 1885 enacted a forest law, in which forest fires 

 were given a prominent place, and other States, about this time or soon after, 

 had enacted laws making it a misdemeanor to start forest fires. 



In Wisconsin forest fires during October, 1871, are said to have resulted in 

 1,000 people losing their lives and 3,000 being left homeless. 



It is difficult to secure data on early protection work by private owners. 

 Undoubtedly, effort was made by many to prevent fire from destroying their 



