302 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



OREGON 



FOREST protection efforts in Oregon started as far back as 1903. From 

 that date until 1909 the Federal Government and certain private owners 

 endeavored to protect the timber against loss through fire, being feebly 

 assisted by the State through a voluntary warden system. 



In 1909 the Western Forestry & Conservation Association, now the greatest 

 single factor in conservation work of the northwest, was formed by a few timber 

 owners in Idaho, Washington, Montana and Oregon, and this organization estab- 

 lished headquarters in Portland, Oregon. There being no concerted effort on 

 the part of timber owners looking to fire protection, an effort was made by this 

 Association to bring about such action. This resulted in the formation during 

 1910 of the Oregon Forest Fire Association and the districting of the State into 

 six (6) patrol areas. These six sections were each to put in effect such protec- 

 tion measures as seemed advisable and the representatives of the patrol districts 

 were to form the State organization. 



The plan though sound failed because of lack of interest and inability of 

 individual owners to get together, and the serious season of 1910 found Oregon 

 in poor shape to combat fires occurring outside the National Forests. 



The natural result was that this one year saw a loss of over 1J4 billion bd. 

 feet of timber valued at 2J^ million dollars. Over 1 billion feet of this timber 

 was on private lands, the Forest Service with its better protection keeping their 

 losses below those of the private owners. Prior to this bad year three counties, 

 Coos, Klamath and Lake had former co-operative patrol organizations and their 

 losses were comparatively small. 



The serious losses of 1910 caused owners to act with a view to preventing 

 a recurrence of such serious consequences. The Oregon Forest Fire Association 

 was reorganized and at once started a campaign to secure greater activity in 

 the protection of private lands. The Western Forestry & Conservation Asso- 

 ciation, together with the Oregon Forest Fire Association, Oregon Conservation 

 Association and Oregon Conservation Commission assisted so far as possible 

 by the Forest Service prepared a most excellent State forest law, and carried 

 on a vigorous campaign looking to its passage by the Legislative Session of 1911. 

 The bill was passed as presented and gave the State the first law providmg for 

 actual State aid. 



The law of 1911 carried an appropriation of $60,000.00 for the two year 

 period, provided for a State Forester, a non-political State Board of Forestry, 

 and gave this board authority to expend the funds appropriated in such a way 

 as to secure the best results. 



As indicated, though many owners of timber land in Oregon had for several 

 years protected their lands against fire, there was no concerted effort to this 

 end and many sections of the State received no attention whatever. Due to the 

 efforts made by the various organizations in the State, public spirited timber 

 owners and the beneficial effect of an excellent forest law, 1911 saw great activity 

 in protection matters. This was the start of efficient work in the State as a 

 whole, and since that time such progress has been made that probably in no other 

 State is better protection afforded. 



