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Show FOREST VISITORS TOTAL 0,080,000 Need of Spreading Gospel of Fire Prevention Is Emphasized Em-phasized by Forester. (Prepared by the fritted Ptntes Department of Agriculture.) The prominent part the 14G national forests play in the recreational activities activi-ties and outdoor life of the nation is emphatically brought home by the fact that nearly 10.000,000 persims visited these forests during l!2;i, according ac-cording to the final tabulation made by the forest service. United States Department of Agriculture. The importance of the automobile as a means of conveyance to recreation recrea-tion seekers is shown by the further fact that more than eight out of ten forest visitors, or over S.OOO.IWI, came In privately-owned cars, while motor blisses accounted for an additional fraction of the total. Hikers and those who used the railroads made up the balance. Prevent Forest Fires. The enormous number of automobile automo-bile travelers who enter the national forests in all parts of the United States emphasi:'."S (he need of spreading spread-ing the gospel of forest-tire prevention irmong all motorists. otiieials of the forest service s.;v. Colonel YV. F. (in-elev. chief forester, forest-er, has stated that Sit per rent of ail forest fires in the country thos? within national forests as well as on privately-owned land are the result of human carelessness. To stop ;h;s carelessness and to bring about a realization of what America's forests mean to the country's prosperity we the aim of Forest Protection week. "The most .formidable agency of forest destruction and prevention of reforestation is fire," states the chief of the forest service, "and of the fires which annually devastate vast areas, four-fifths are ascribed to human agencies, and virtually all may be controlled and made Innocuous through prudence, care, and vigilance." vigi-lance." Chief Causes of Fire. Among the chief causes of forest fires, declares the forest service. Is carelessness with cigarettes, cigars, pipe ashes, matches, and camp fires. "The floor of a vood"d area," says Chief Forester Greeley, "is composed of highly Inflammable materials, and all that Is needed in dry weather to start a fire Is to toss a burning match, cigarette, cig-arette, or cigar over the side of a machine. ma-chine. This is especially true if there is any wind to fan the blaze. ("amp fires built without first si-raping away all Inflammable material, or which are built close to brush and trees. ;ire also first-class forest Are brooders. "The national forests belong to the public, and the public is welcomed by all officers of the forest service. Since 1017 the number of recreation seekers has trebled. Almost IOOiki.. OoO visited the 140 national forests during 1023. "P.ut In the interests of national safety the forest service Is bound to emphasize the hazards arising from carelessness with fire In the woods, not only in those areas owner by the federal government but In privately-owned privately-owned areas as well. "No citizen should calmly sit hack and say 'It's no business of mini:' as long as forest fires destroy lives and property every year. The acreage swept by fires has averaged 1 1 .' 0.rn nl acres for the past sevn years, and the value of the timber am property destroyed has averaged 1 r.r.f k. m h. F.very foot of timber destroyed In this way adds to the economic b"hrdens of every citizen as the civilization of America Is founded on the free use of wood. "Simple rules for every person to follow while In wooded country have been worked out by the forest service. These rules can be summed up In one sentence: Use the same care with fire In the woods as you do In your own home. When in one of the national forests keep In touch Willi the forest ranger. I'.e guided by his advice and at all times consider blm as a friend whose duty It Is to protect you and the forests from the common enemy lire." |