File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 35 (1923) (20492291802).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 35
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv35penn (find matches)
Year: 1923 (1920s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forests and Waters
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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these efforts until very recently have failed signally. In the course of time, however, because of the value of forests to the Commonwealth in addition to their direct value to the owners who happen to hold title to the land, and because of the failure of forest owners to accomplish satis- factory protection, the Pennsylvania government entered upon a policy of land purchase. It is a well recognized fact that when individuals cannot or will not do what is necessary for society, the Commonwealth' must take such measures as will provide for its own welfare. With its own land the Commonwealth recognizes that protection from fire is the first principle of sound forestry practice. But the Common- wealth owns only a little more than 1,500,000 acres of forest land. Con- ditions in Pennsylvania are such today that this small proportion of the total State forest area of 13,200,000 acres cannot possibly bring about the satisfactory conditions which can come, and be maintained only, by an area large enough to meet the timber needs of an increasing popula- tion. Neither is it probable that the Commonwealth will, or ever can, own enough forest land to guarantee a sufficient timber crop. There- fore, it recognizes its duty in the matter of protecting the general forest area within its boundaries from its worst internal enemy, forest fire. This policy has been expressed in law and provision has been made for a State forest fire organization, but at no time has there been sufficient money appropriated or allotted to equip the organization or to complete it and make it fully effective. With the million dollars appropriated by the 1921 General Assembly and approved by Governor Sproul it became possible to expand the State forest fire organization and to de- velop it to suit the conditions in different parts of the Commonwealth. Steel fire towers have been built so that now almost the entire forest area of the Commonwealth is under constant observation during the fire seasons, for fires will start and they must be detected promptly. These towers have been manned for from two to three months each spring and fall. Each tower, is connected by telephone so that the existence of a fire may be reported at once to the nearest forest fire warden. This has necessitated the building of approximately 850 miles of telephone line. There are almost 4,000 forest fire wardens, including State foresters, State forest rangers. State game protectors, special wardens, and local forest fire wardens. Every State policeman is also a forest fire warden. From the local wardens, towermen, inspectors, and patrolmen, fire bosses are chosen. Each fire boss is expected to have a regular fire crew of from 10 to 20 men. Most of the wardens who have crews are now supplied with forest fire fighting tools. This organization tries not only to extinguish fires promptly, but also to eliminate the cause of forest fires by having hazards cleaned up and by edua:<.ting the people generally to appreciate the forests and to be careful with fire in and near them. This organization with the excep- tion of the State police and the ganit protectors is under the direction of the Chief Forest Fire Warden who in turn is under the direction of the Secretary of Forests and Waters. The Commonwealth is trying to do its part in the protection of forests from fire, but it cannot do much without the help of woodland owners and of every good citizen of Pennsylvania. It is a part of the re- sponsibility of ownership that property be protected by the owner. This 40
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