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Show yj PROTECTING OUR FORESTS California officials have little regard for anyone who endangers endang-ers the forests. One camper, who was convicted of leaving a canvpfire burning in wooded land, was sentenced to stay in jail "until it rains." So for days he gazed through the bars of the county jail, hopefully watching for clouds to appear! Forests constitute great natural assets of many states, and every year vast areas are burned over, destroying thousnds of acres of timber. Much of this destruction is caused by careless campers and picnic parties and by motorists who discard lighted cigarettes .cigars and matches along the roadside. The lack of care evident in forests is no different from that which results in huge property losses from other causes throughout through-out the nation. Year in and year out the destruction continues, averaging about a half-billion dollars in property losses, according accord-ing to the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and causing 10,-000 10,-000 deaths. Reduction of this great waste is a problem to which thinking think-ing Americans may well give earnest attention. r |