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Show FOREST VISITORS j TOTAL 8,000,000 Need of Spreading Gospel ! of Fire Prevention Is Em- j phasized by Forester. ,!.--:: ir':l by t!:.' f'nl'.-l STi'rd D;Kirt rn- :il of A-i ., u:t.O'.-.) ; The prom;m-iit part the 1 p; nnlional finvsH day in li e reel lioiml activi- j t;,-s and outdoor life of the nation I.i I emphatically brought home by the fact that nearly HUi'Ji .") pors'ms vi:-:ii''l tln-so fon-s's during 1!C5, according ac-cording to the linal tabulation made by the f,,rcst service, fulled States opa rt merit 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.uOO.ooo, came In privately-owned curs, while motor busses 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 emphasizes the need of spreading spread-ing the gn:-pel o( forest-lire prevention among all i:iiti: Isis, oilioials of the forest service s,,y. Colonel V. B. Creelry, chief fore f- er, has slated that M p t cent of ah I I forest fires In the country thos. within national forests as well as on privately-owned land are the result of human carelessness. To stop this carelessness and to bring about a realization of what America's forests mean to the country's prosperity was the aim of Forest Protection week. "The most .formidable agency of forest destruction and prevention of reforestation Is lire," states the chief of the forest service, "and of the Ores which annually devastate vast areas, four-fifths are ascribed to human agencies, and virtually all may lie 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 wooded 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. Camp fires built without first scraping away all Inflammable material, or which are built close to brush and trees, are also first-class forest fire breeders. "The national forests belong to the public, and the public is welcomed by nil officers of the forest service. Since 1017 the number of recreation seekers has trebled. Almost 10,000,-000 10,000,-000 visited the 14G national forests during 1023. "But in the Interests of national safety the forest service Is bound to emphasize the hazards arising' front carelessness with fire In the woods, not only In those areas owned by the federal government but in privately-owned privately-owned areas as well. "No citizen should calmly sit back and say 'It's no business of mine' as long as forest fires destroy lives and property every year. The acreage swept by fires has averaged 11,000,000 acres for the past seven years, and the value of the timber and property destroyed lias averaged Slfi.fiOO.OOO. Every foot of timber destroyed in tills way adds to the economic burdens 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 with the forest ranger. Be guided by his advice and at all times consider him as a friend whose duty It is to protect you and the forests from the common enemy fire." |