384 RgPORT OP THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



taining good protection systems now bear this out. Furthermore, by requiring 

 an owner to have his land patrolled by a regularly organized patrol association, 

 an insuring company would be relieved, to a large degree, of the necessity of 

 keeping track of an owner's protective effort. . 



It has been suggested that insuring companies charge a rate which would 

 enable them to maintain the necessary protective force. This is not considered 

 feasible, and is not in line with what has been done with other classes of property. 

 It has also been suggested that owners in a State or part of a State, band together 

 and carry their own insurance by assessing property at a uniform rate to cover 

 the losses of any individual owner when such a loss occurs. It is not believed that 

 owners could be induced to take any such action because of the money liability 

 involved. 



It is not the purpose of this report to go at length into the question of insur- 

 ing standing timber, but simply to mention it in the hope that it will result in 

 thought being given the subject, and that at a later date its possibilities may be 

 fully considered. 



A compilation of fire losses in various States extending over as long a 

 period as possible, and showing the average percentage of loss in various localities, 

 would go far toward getting capital interested in this subject. Unquestionably, if 

 insurance could be had on standing timber it would make it an even better and 

 safer investment than it is, and greater encourage timber production as a 

 crop. 



FUTURE WORK FOR A COMMITTEE ON FOREST FIRES 



THE Sub-committee on Forest Fires probably realizes more forcibly than 

 any one else that its report falls far short of bringing to light all of the 

 available information on the subject under discussion. The experience 

 of different members of the committee in their endeavor to secure data, has 

 likewise given them a clearer insight into what should be obtained and how to 

 go about it, than those not intimately connected with the work of the committee. 



It is the opinion of the committee that the work it has undertaken should 

 be continued, the crop of the work enlarged, and that a more specific and com- 

 plete report be submitted at some future time. 



It is believed that more complete and detailed information on just what 

 is being done by the different States should be collected and tabulated. This 

 should include figures showing as near as possible the extent and value of each 

 State's forest resources for various purposes, and the importance of the lumber 

 industry to the State. The work of all agencies in each State should be care- 

 fully analyzed and in the case of each, definite and clean cut recommendations 

 made for improvement where needed. Such a report would of necessity deal 

 with forest fire laws, and so possibly encroach upon the field of another sub- 

 committee, but it seems impossible to segregate the work of the different agencies 

 in a State if all are properly working together. 



A much more careful compilation of areas adequately and inadequately 

 protected in each State would be of interest and of value to students of forest 

 protection. 



