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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1944)
Forest Fires Sabotage War Plans by Destroying Lumber, Hastening Erosion, Diverting Manpower ____ A _____._ Over 90 Per Cent Of Conflagrations Called Preventable — Each year loyal American citizens, through carelessness and thoughtlessness, start an average of some 190,000 forest fires in the United States. This tremendous annual destruc tion of our timber resources has been going on relentlessly year in and year out. Now that these resources are so critically needed for the suc cessful prosecution of the war, the number of forest fires must be reduced drastically in the interest of national se tcurity. In addition to its effect on our war production activity, forest fires further complicate our manpower shortage problem by draining away from critical war industries those wasted man-hours necessary to ex tinguish and fight the thousands of fires that rage yearly throughout the country. The problem is one of per sonal interest to every American. Forest fires speed up erosion of farm land by denuding watersheds. On millions of acres, forest fires in duce swift run-off, and heavy sea sonal flooding, resulting in serious property damage, less water stored for irrigation or power, and thus less food to fight for freedom. These fires also destroy wild life along with its food and cover. Un told numbers of deer, birds and oth er wild life as well as fish (in streams polluted by wood ashes) are crippled and killed annually be cause of forest fires. Prevention. Objectives of the 1944 forest fire prevention program are to help speed victory by: 1. Reducing greatly the more than 210,000 forest fires occurring each year, 90 per cent of which are man caused and therefore, preventable. 2. Releasing manpower—of which nearly one million man-days are tied up yearly In fighting forest fires. 3. Cutting down on actual and po tential dangers and losses to such critical war materials as timber and feed for domestic stock and wild life. One Third of U. S. Is Forest. The forest empire of the United * States, exclusive of Alaska, is larger than the combined area of France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands and the British Isles. It constitutes one-third the area of the continental United States. No region or zone is without its forests, although 60 per cent is east of the Great Plains in an area con taining four-fifths of our population. The other 40 per cent is west of the Great Plains and includes most of our remaining virgin timber. It is evident therefore, that forest fires constitute a national problem which can be solved only by nationwide action. Statistical information on hand which was gathered over a five-year period. 1936-41, shows that an aver age of 210,970 forest fires rage each year throughout the nation and burn over an average of 31,233,000 acres. This represents an area much larg er than the land area of New York state. This wartime waste repre sents three billion feet of timber killed—or enough to build 215,000 five-room homes for war workers. Ninety per cent of all forest fires are man-made. The remaining 10 per cent are caused by lightning. Careless smokers and campers are responsible for starting 30 per cent of all our forest fires. Other forest fire* are INTENTIONALLY set for such purposes as clearing plow-land, burning off weed patches, logging slash, brush or debris, and although many of these fires are started law fully, great numbers of them get out t of hand because of carelessness and ^ ignorance on the part of the burner or because of his willingness to "take a chance.” Forest fires in this cate gory constitute 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL. In its wartime activities for 1942 the United States used more wood than steel. According to R. W. Pat terson, undersecretary of war, 120, 000,000 tons of wood were used as against 100 million tons of steel. As a further indication of its im portance in our wartime activities, we have the statement of Rear Adm. E. L. Cochrane in the International Woodworker, 9-22-43 that "Every naval vessel, from the log battle ship of the North Carolina class to the small mine sweeper, depends on wood.” It is a problem then of national concern when the production of lum ber (estimated in 1943 to be four billion board feet below require ments of that year) is slowed down every time woods and mill crews fight fires. Forest fires are real and potential threats to war plants and canton ments, many of which are located in and near forest, woodland or brush-covered areas. They are po tential threats too, to the efficient operation of defensive air and sea patrols, training pilots, etc. They threaten the nation’s war program by diverting manpower from war industries, training camps and farms to the fighting of fires. Every patriotic citizen should re gard helping prevent forest fires as an essential wartime duty. Lieut. Gen. John L. DeWitt, while head of the Western defense command, list ed reasons why the forest fires en danger our national security: (1) Smoke-palls from forest fires along coastal areas limit visibility of air and sea patrols. (2) Smoke haze reduces visibility from aircraft warning stations and fire lookouts. (3) Many defense plants and mili tary establishments are located in or adjacent to forest areas and might be damaged or destroyed by major conflagrations. (4) Forest fires serve as beacons for the ene my. The Government’s Part. There are 160 national forests with about 178,000,000 federally owned acres in 42 states and two terri tories. All are under 10 regional foresters (one in Alaska) and their staffs. National forests are protect ed from fire by a decentralized or ganization that is in close and con stant touch with local conditions, problems and people. Normally, this organization in cludes about 4,000 year-long forest supervisors, forest rangers, forest guards, etc., and another 4,000 short term smokechasers, lookouts, etc. But the manpower situation has been so acute during the war that the Office of Civilian Defense estab lished the "Forest Fire Fighters Service” to help the established for est fire protection agencies. It is reported that more than 185,000 re cruits have joined the FFFS to date. There are 281,000,000 acres of state and privately owned forest land. Federal aid, through the For est Service, goes to 41 states to help state foresters and private own ers give organized cooperative for est fire protection. Funds from state and private sources are greater than those from the federal government. However, there are over 146,000,000 acres that need, but still lack, or ganized forest fire protection. In their efforts to prevent forest fires, the federal government and state governments have operated on a regional and state-wide basis. Their educational efforts on a local level have been carried through the media of newspapers, radio stations, motion picture theaters, civic organ izations, etc. And in addition, they have used exhibits, lectures, pam phlets, admonition signs and post ers. The Public’s Part. Above all else there is need to impress upon the public that every individual has a patriotic stake in this EMERGENCY—that the prob lem can only be solved through indi vidual action. Specifically, the need is: 1. For the public to be careful with matches, smokes — including cigarettes, cigars and pipe ashes— and campfires. 2. For victory gardeners as well as farmers, ranchers, stockmen and forest industries to ask about a per I mlt—and the law—before burning grass, brush, fence rows, ferns, trash, or before starting any fires in forests. 3. For everybody to put out small fires and to report all others quickly to the nearest ranger or fire warden. Geographical Aspects. With an eye to the tremendous value of timber in our all-out war production activities, the United States has been divided into three broad zones, each of which has been weighed and its relative importance indicated on the map—which also shows the Forest Service adminis trative regions. Before the broad zones and administrative regions were determined, war industrial ac tivity and national defense consid erations were studiously reviewed. Zone 1, with a relative Importance of 60, Includes: 1. Three Pacific coast states plus western Montana and northwestern Idaho. 2. Most of the three Great Lakes states. 3. All or parts of 26 states from Missouri, Arkansas, east Texas and Louisiana to Maine. Zone II, with a relative impor tance of 30, Includes: 1. The area lying east of the Pa cific coast portion of Zone 1 and west of the Great Plains states. 2. The area lying between the Lakes states and the Atlantic coast Gulf of Mexico portion of Zone I. Zone III. with a relative impor tance of 10, Includes parts of Mon tana and Minnesota, and all or parts of the Great Plains states of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Okla homa. These zones have been subdivid ed into regions as follows, with the particular fire hazards briefly listed: ^ Region I: (Montana and Northern Idaho): Ninety per cent of all fires here are caused by lightning, with the greatest damage done to white pine timber. The resident problem is more important than the visitor problem. Region 2: (Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas): Thirty four per cent of all fires in this region are man-caused. The vis itor problem is more important than the resident one, with carelessness more of a factor than intentional fire setting. Region 3: (Arizona. New Mexico): There Is less of a fire problem here than in any other region. Region 4: (Utah, Nevada, most of Idaho): In this region man-caused fires run from 17 to 57 per cent, varying with the locality. Careless smokers, logging operators, camp ers, land - clearing farmers and ranchers, are the causes. Serious erosion is often caused by fires in many localities. Grass fires are a great hazard. Region 5: (California): Three fourths of all fires are man-caused. Part of this is due to the great influx of war workers, but the majority of fires are caused by residents rather than newcomers. Region 6: (Oregon, Washington): Most forest fires here are due to careless smokers, but forest indus tries and incendiaries cause the larg est area burned and the greatest damage. Region 7: (New England and Mid dle Atlantic states plus Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia): Again the local resident and the smoker are mainly to blame—also the farm er who burns to clear land. Region 8: (The South, from North Carolina south and west to and in cluding Texas): The intentional burner—who has believed in burning for years—is the greatest problem. He is the local resident, not the visitor—the white man rather than the Negro. Region 9: (the Great Lakes states. North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Illi nois, Indiana, Ohio): Diverse condi tions exist in this region with large numbers of fires and tremendous acreage burned. Ninety-seven per cent of all fires are man-caused in the following order of importance— I the smoker, the incendiary, the de bris burner. j Observing These Precautions Would Greatly Reduce Fire Losses i ampers: Before building a campfire— Observe the state laws. If a per mit is necessary, get it from a ranger or state fire warden. 2. Scrape away around the fire all inflammable material in a circle at least five feet in diameter. Dig a hole in the center, build your fire in it, and keep your fire amalL Before leaving campfire, stir the •oals and soak them with water. •V Forest Industry Workers: Build and maintain safe Are lines around mills, logging camps, etc. Keep efficient spark arresters on locomotives, tractors, etc. Comply fully with state laws. Keep Are patrols on the Are job— especially during dangerous Are weather, and make frequent inspec tions for Are hazards. Be extremely careful to put out all matches and cigarettes before throw ing them away. Farmers and Ranchers: Never burn to clear crop land: Without getting a permit from a ranger or fire warden, if state laws require it. Without scraping a trail or plow ing around for safety. Without having plenty of help on the job. During unusually hot or dry or windy weather. Without beating out all smoulder ing grass after burning is finished. Looking at HOLLYWOOD n. LIFTON WEBB took one look at my head and snapped, "Where's that hat I gave you?" "I'm saving It for an occasion,” I told him. “It’s too beautiful to be worn to an interview." Webb arched his eyebrows, made a gesture with a dripping hand to _ include the green I marble bathtub, crystal bowls of soap and bath salts, and sea green marble walls and floor. “If Interview ing me in the bath isn’t an oc casion, I'd like to in ih i . know what ia. I Clifton Webb would sPend mX first day before the cameras sitting in lukewarm water. Sort of limits me-" We were on the set of "Laura,” Twentieth Century’s screen play of Vera Caspary’s best seller, where Webb plays the acid-etched role of Waldo Lydecker—a combination of Cholly Knickerbocker and Alex Woollcott. The part fits him like his own skin. Lydecker is a raconteur, dramatic critic, and man about sev eral towns. So is Webb. Suda and Such You never -saw a bathroom like this one , in “Laura" before—not even in the early De Mille’s. It has a chaise longue covered in leopard skin, and leopard skin chairs. I dropped down on the chaise longue. "Nice little place you’ve got here, Waldo” (sounds like a lap dog, doesn't it?), I told my Broadway pal. "That’s what Dana Andrews says when he comes to question me about Laura’s murder,” said Webb. ”1 love my reply—‘It’s lavish, but I call it home.’ ” He went on to explain the psy chology of his role, describing Waldo as “an original, a sybarite, a species of adder turned out by Sulka and Charvet.” All I could see of him was a naked wet torso above some green bath water. "You’re strictly from Mother Nature at the moment,” I said. “In terviewers always write of your sar torial elegance. They rave about the set of your Homburg, the shade of your gloves. They shy you’re one of the 10 best dressed men in the world. But I can’t write about your clothes today, and your skin isn’t the kind I love to touch—it’s too soapy!” Blithe Spirit to Bath Salta "As an old pal, you can say I’m clad in my right mind, can’t you?” he wheedled. "In summer weather in New York, according to this script, this so-and-so Waldo wrote his articles in the tub.” Then Webb veered sharply away from Waldo to say, "How many years have we known each other, anyway?" We started figuring, and the names Mary Hay and Dick Barthel mess came up. Perhaps you re member an inimitable dance Webb and Mary Hay once did. But you won’t see a single dance step in "Laura.” The Webb dancing shoes are packed away—have been for 10 years now. His hit in "As Thousands Cheer" was for his impersonations. They couldn’t find a dancing partner nimble enough to keep up with him. After that producers capitalized on his brittle, humorous technique. They revived Wilde’s “The Impor tance of Being Earnest.” He was a natural for "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Too Fast on Hia Feet All this happened because nobody could keep up with his flying feet. That, too, is the secret of his un successful go at Hollywood nine years ago. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed Webb at $3,000 a week to star in a film called “Elegance,” the story of Maurice, the famous ballroom dancer, and Joan Craw ford was to play Walton, his part ner. But she couldn’t keep up with him. At Twentieth Century-Fox, where his present contract calls for one picture a year for five years at a plush salary, he frequently runs into a couple of other men who came to dinner, too—Monty Woolley and Laird Crcgar. Webb has taken Con nie Bennett’s house. It’s elegant. We’d, gotten this far when the camera had to reload, so I turned my back while Webb got out of the tub and into a bathrobe. "Laura’’ is a sure swing away from our grim oast. Altogether it is an escape pic ture—escape into the dear dead lux ury world of bygone days, with a good mystery to bopt. • • • Ha'l, Donna Lee Remember the little girl at the World’s Fair who won a television contest? Her name—Donna Lee O’Leary. Now she’s 16 and R.K.O.’s signed her to a long-term contract, dropped the O’Leary, and expects her to be another Deanna Durbin. . . . Dick Powell’s signed a long term contract there. ... I hear Shirley Temple and Frank Sinatra will do Metro’s new version of “Mer ton of the Movies” — renamed "Mary of the Movies.” j I_ SEWINO CIRCLE_ ^ 1946, c?£5fc\ ' Crisp Charm ^RISP and gay and youthful is ^ this pertly flared jacket over a full-gored skirt. It will make up smartly in all sorts of materials— from flowered crepes to starched and shining piques and tubbable cottons. • • • Barbara Bell Pattern No. 1984 la de signed for sizes 11, 12. 13, 14, 18, 16 and 18. Size 12, short sleeves, requires 4ft yards of 39-inch material. Perfect House Dress IT HAS the look of a clean, sleek 1 shirtmaker but it’s really just a perfectly comfortable, especially smart house dress! The scalloped front closing and scalloped sleeves give it that out-of-the-ordinary look. • * • Barbara Bell Pattern No. 1946 Is de signed for sizes 36 . 38, 40. 42. 44. 46 , 48. 80 and 82. Size 38 requires 4ft yards of 39-lnch material. Due to an unusually large demand and current war conditions, slightly more time Is required In filling orders for a few of the most popular pattern numbers. Send your order to: SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT. 530 South Wells 8L Chicago Enclose 20 cents In coins for each , pattern desired. Pattern No......Size.. Name .... Address .. Dead Wreckoning Driver Examiner—What would you do if the car brakes suddenly failed to work? Pupil—Hit something cheap. “What Is a ‘problem child?' ** asked a reader. Just another ex ample of mind over mater. His Failing Mr. Puff—I can go out with any girl I please. Miss Ruff—Too bad you can’t please any of them, isn’t it? Has Had Enough Teacher—This maket four timet Tee had to punish you thit week. What havm you to say to that? Bobbie—I'm glad it’s Friday, teacher. A Coverup Mister—What do you think would go well with purple and green socks, dear? Missus—Hip boots. HOUSEWIVES: ★ * ★ Your Waste Kitchen Fate Are Needed tor Explosives TURN ’EM IN! ★ ★ ★ ■ DELICIOUS I FROZEN , m DESSERTS.1 - Remind yourself to ask for . C-feuitoiv '\ when Radios are again available I I 1 The radios that CLARION will offer in the post-war era will be as fine as engineering and mechanical skill can conceive or money can buy. Styled right—built right—and priced right—It will pay you to put a reminder string on your finger today so that on some still unknown tomorrow you may go to your favorite retailer to see the CLARION set you have in mind. Your CLARION dealer will be able to supply you with the radio you want and need—whether a table model, portable, battery set, console or radio-phono graph. RADIO * 4 All these will have exquisite tonal quality and accurate selectivity. Somewhere in the CLARION line you’ll find the type of set you are looking for, at a pleasing price. Watch for CLARION when Peace removes all merchandising barriers. WARWICK MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 4640 WEST HARRISON STREET CHICAGO 44, ILLINOIS \ 9