270 REPORT OP THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



owners had gotten together for protection and formed associations covering part 

 of the territory, great difficulty was experienced in extending the co-operative 

 patrol movement, though where tried it had worked well, and been comparatively 

 inexpensive. 



The State Board of Forestry of this State, recognizing the benefits of 

 co-operative organizations, finally offered to combine its efforts with those of 

 owners in any county where a patrol organization was formed, adding their 

 forces to those of the private owners, and thereby reducing expense and the 

 possibility of friction. Within a short time practically all of the State was 

 organized into co-operative patrols, and the plan has worked far better than 

 anyone could have hoped for. 



In Oregon a unique law was recently passed compelling every owner of 

 timber to provide patrol for his property. This law in no way reduces the need 

 for State appropriations to carry on protective work, but the effect has been 

 most beneficial, and many sections where little interest was formerly taken are 

 now well protected. 



Certainly no one but the State, on lands outside federal jurisdiction, can 

 properly enforce the law and enforcement can be brought about only by paid 

 deputies. Such matters as slash burning, enforcement of laws governing clear- 

 ing of rights-of-ways along railroads and wagon roads, regulation of railroads 

 as regards setting of fires, enforcing spark-arrester laws and burning permit laws, 

 have in the aggregate an enormous influence on proper fire protection. They can 

 be carried out only with State support. A State's interest in forest protection is 

 so vital that it can well afford to incur considerable expense in maintaining 

 adequate forces to prevent fire, and when this is done private owners usually do 

 their share. 



Unquestionably the greatest influence is exerted by the States when they 

 work in close harmony with other protective agencies, giving such agencies the 

 full benefit of their experience and accepting that of others when ii serves 

 their needs. 



DESTRUCTION OF TIMBER 



THE most complete data on destruction of timber and loss of life through 

 forest fires since any records have been available has been collected by 

 the Forest Service, and is excellently presented in Bulletin ll?, "Forest 

 Fires." This compilation shows that forest fires in the United States have caused 

 an average annual loss of 70 human lives and the destruction of standing mer- 

 chantable timber to the amount of at least $25,000,000. This fails to take into 

 account loss of immature timber, crops, dwellings, farm buildings and live stock. 

 Were this information available, the annual losses would be surprisingly greater. 

 The annual losses of timber have been so often commented upon that it is 

 unnecessary to go into detail regarding this matter. 



It is well to remember that direct destruction of propertly is not the only 

 serious result of forest fires, but that such fires have a widespread indirect effect 

 upon the community. State and Government where they occur. This fact 



