GREAT FOREST FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1179, 14 July 1911, Page 5

GREAT FOREST FIRES.

CANADIAN TOWNS DESTROYED, HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. Bs ToksraDhr-Presa Association—OoDyHchl Ottawa, July 12. The town of Cochrane, in the Porcupino mining district, has been destroyed by bush fires. Tho files are spreading, and settlors aro fleeing from their homes. Kain only will save the Porcupine mining camps. Oscada, a small town in Michigan, has been wiped out. Tho lire started in some. slab-yards, aud (lie flames spread (o (lie adjoining settlements. The inhabitants escaped in a steamer. A relief train was wrecked, but it is not known whether there were any fatalities. lores!; fires endaDgcr other (onus.

REFUGE SOUGHT IN STREAMS. Toronto, July 12. Thirty persons have perished in forest fires in Northern Ontario. In addition to tho town of Cochrane, South Porcupine, and Pottsville have been destroyed, and Tisdnlo half destroyed. Kelso is deserted, the inhabitants seeking refuge in tho streams. It is believed that the casualties will number several hundreds. EIGHTEEN HUNDRED PERSONS HOMELESS. Chicago, July 12. Terrific forest fires in Northern. Michigan have destroyed (he towns of Aoeablo and Oscada. At least 75 persons have perished, and 1800 aro homeless. Damage to tho amount of a million pounds has been done. HEAT WAVE CONTINUES. New York, July 12. Tho heat continues. Three hundred deaths from sunstroko have occurred in ten days, all records being broken. Thirty-two deaths were reported in Philadelphia. SAVING THE FORESTS. SOME AMERICAN DIFFICULTIES. The districts in Canada affected by the fires are in the neighbourhood of Calgary, and lie along the foot-hills of tho Rockies. Cochrane lies 22 miles west of Calgary, among tho foot-hills and river "benches" at tho base of the ranges. The traveller hero passes large horse, sheep, and cattle ranches, and beyond the settlement nre sonjo coal pits. The Porcupine Hills lio to the south of Cochrane. The enormous conflagrations that nre of frequent occurrence in the United States forests, and tho colossal annual fire-losses, have ahvays been a matter of wonder to Europeans, and the unusually great devastations of last year called forth considerable comment 5n the European press. In a recent number of 'Naturwissonschaftliche Wochenehrift" the subjpet o" forest fires in North America is discussed by Professor Deckert, of Frankfort, a distinguished forester, who has travelled all over the United States, and- is acquainted by personal experience with tho conditions of which he speaks. Professoi Deckert does not take altogether a customary view of the annual loss being almost entirely chargcablo to natural carelessness and wastefulness of superabundant riches, but. candidly states his conviction that both tho extent of the forests and climatic conditions render it quite impossible to protect our forests as they are protected in Germany and middle Europe generally.