This file is a separate entity within the Rutledge Collection and includes material for the years 1910, 1914 and 1915 with a very limited volume of correspondence for the years 1931 and 1932. During the years 1910, 1914 and 1915 the correspondence is very similar in nature; letters to and from other timber protective associations predominate and of these, letters to the Western Forestry and Conservation Association are prominent. These letters are concerned, in the main, with methods of fire fighting and the prevention of forest fires; pamphlets, fire-warning stickers, circulars etc. all designed to make the general public more conscious of the tremendous danger of forest fires and the wastage caused thereby. There are also the routine notices of fire-fighting conferences and of meetings of the Association; routine letters to members of the Association who had failed to pay their assessment; and many letters discussing the damage caused by particular fires.

1910

The summer of this year was particularly dry and consequently a great deal of damage was done by fire, especially in the locality between the St. Joe and the Coeur d'Alene rivers. The town of St. Maries was only just saved from burning. A co-operative agreement was made between the Association and the United States Forestry Bureau thereby ensuring that parts of the district were cared for and patrolled by government rangers. There is correspondence with Thomas Cooper, Land Commissioner for the Northern Pacific Railway Company at St. Paul, Minnesota, requesting a $10,000 contribution to help defray the heavy Association expenses for the year, however, only $5,000 was forthcoming.

1914

This was another bad year for forest fires and much of the correspondence is concerned with the discussion of these. Further new methods of fire fighting are suggested. There are the usual routine letters to members who have failed to pay their dues and assessments.

1915

In addition to the large volume of routine correspondence which exists for this year the remainder of the material is letters to and from other timber protective associations in which there is much discussion of the Weeks and Fallon Fire Law.

1931-1932

Correspondence for these two years is concerned entirely with notices of meetings of the Association members and of its Board of Directors, and the minutes of these meetings.

A communication of April 1932, makes reference to a special meeting of the Association to consider a resolution for the dissolution of the Association. The outcome of this is not known since the correspondence terminates completely at this juncture.

In addition to this correspondence there is the Minutes of the Coeur d'Alene Timber Protective Association. February 1919-June 1939