4 
of such inaccessibility that only a man searching for game is likely to 
have been there. It is very probable that this fire was set for such a 
purpose. 
RELATION OF FIRES TO SHEEP GRAZING. 
It is of primary importance in this investigation that an unbiased 
opinion should be given on the relation borne by sheep herders to 
forest fires. It has been alleged that sheep herders systematically set 
fire to the forest in order to burn off the timber so that a growth of 
weeds and grass will spring up to furnish grazing in succeeding years. 
On the other hand the publication of this statement within the past 
year in Oregon newspapers has brought forth most positive denials 
by stockmen that this practice exists. This phase of the subject was 
a matter of special inquiry. All classes of people were asked again 
and again about this matter, and whenever a man stated that such a 
practice exists an endeavor was made to find out the place, the time, 
and all other detailed circumstances of the cases with which he was 
familiar. But it was always difficult upon asking such details to secure 
anything more than inconclusive circumstantial evidence. From the 
people who were antagonistic to sheep grazing in the Cascades it would 
have been possible to learn of very few cases positively attributable to 
this cause. With the sheepmen themselves, however, we talked very 
frankly, and as a result of these conversations it may be stated, with- 
out betraying any confidences and without citing individual cases, as 
unquestionably true that in the early days of sheep grazing in the 
Cascades there was a widespread belief Among the sheepmen that 
burning off the forest was of positive benefit to the sheep-grazing 
industry, and that many herders undoubtedly did systematically burn 
over areas in the forest, either where the density of the timber had pre- 
vented the growth of suitable grazing plants, or where they had already 
grazed and were about to remove to another camp, or when they were 
leaving the forest at the end of the season. How general this practice 
was it is impossible to say. Many of the sheep herders and packers 
deny ever having set fires themselves or ever having known of a fire 
being set by others. No doubt in many eases such elaims are correct. 
It is clear that at the present time most sheep herders and packers 
are extremely careful not to allow their camp fires to spread and not to 
set fires intentionally. This is attributable to various causes. In the 
first place, the increase in the West of a knowledge of the importance 
of protecting the national timber resources has been very marked, and 
rarely is a man found who is not ready to say that in his opinion the 
Western forests should be preserved from fire. Governor Lord has 
urged upon the State legislature the importance of preserving the for- 
ests within the State. The following quotation is from his biennial 
message as published in the Portland Oregonian for March 31, 1897: 
The frequent destruction of our forests by fires, caused by carelessness or design, 
should be stopped. Their preservation is a matter of great importance, and if some- 
