82 
DESTRUCTIVE AGENCIES. 
FOREST FIRES. 
In nearly all portions of our country fire is the most destructive 
agency affecting the forests. It does immense harm in the Rocky Mount- 
ain region. Annually, during the dry seasons, forest fires break out, 
spread with great rapidity, and destroy in a few days the growth of many 
years. The aridity of the climate, the resinous nature of the timber, 
the prevailing high winds, and the sparseness of population render for- 
est fires in this region almost uncontrollable. They are doubly disas- 
trous here, for when the mountain slopes are denuded of their natural 
covering, restoration is extremely difficult, if not impossible. 
The following is taken from the recent report (1886) of Hon. S. T. 
Houser, governor of Montana, to the Secretary of the Interior: 
Another loss that has been greatly increased this year by the extended drought is 
the fearful destruction of our mountain forests by fires. These fires occur every sum- 
mer. They originate generally from carelessness of hunters and campers (white or 
Indian), sometimes from lightning. In former years the destruction has been com- 
paratively limited. This season they have prevailed generally, covering immense 
districts. More timber has been destroyed in the past six months by fire than would 
supply the wants of our people for fifty years, and more than will be renewed by 
growth in a generation. 
By the enactment of laws prescribing penalties for the willful or care- 
less setting of fires, and requiring the local authorities to post notices 
warning persons against violation of the law, some good has been ac- 
complished. It is evident, however, that effective measures for the pre- 
vention of forest fires will not be adopted until the people and law- 
making powers become fully alive to their necessity. And then the 
object can be effected only by a carefully devised system of forest pro- 
tection which will include the active co-operation of local officers. 
Acres burned and values destroyed in Rocky Mountain region in 1880. 










States and Territories. | Acres. | Value. 
(Montana see ness Fe Me RMN en eR eI ce aed EE oe OS ata 88,020 $1, 128, 000 
IMAINDssnAscubécuneboDDSAe eo GHnoS. Esea ode caatbecsodas loLppEcomnucopsocDosTEscuT 21, 000 | 202, 000 
AW AVOHM NG Cameo boa E Sere sho SESS a HOO eBSsDD BUADU oCaneGenannaopsacucenuasbdodcrec 83,780 | 3, 255, 000 
LO) (Hilts Sop saree Sopene BaertoS SS Sees HoMCGhe ocr pCO AseEEmES Samco gamoccecoashAcS ods 42,865 | 1, 042, 800 
COLO Ta eee Sere RE GES 2 Se le eto eye roy 12 SRI ok eh ere ete vac ce eee ee ne 113, 820 | 935, 500 
INTO Wat MFO Kel GOP ye ate oe ope le 2 hc tenet ae eee TE bets aI ark, Se pes ra a | pepe cveerat a ue pocegeee 64, 034 | 142, 075 
4 OLE?) Ve Re See ESO OU CSO Gare Strs HEGOE eae ors cEEh COD oS cea DO GOUSMOOLOE 413,519 | 6, 705, 375 
WASTE. 
The wasteful metnods now practiced in dealing with our timber sup- 
plies deserve earnest condemnation and, by the enactment of proper 
laws, should be visited with severe penalties. 
In some instances lumbermen will set mills near large bodies of fine 
timber, and with unrestrained greed cut down vastly more timber than 

