76 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



demonstrates beyond question the importance of extending the practice of 

 forestry to commercial lumbering operations. 



In order to achieve this end, it is necessary that all of the different 

 forces pursue their work in the closest harmony. The results already accom- 

 plished seem wonderful when we realize that until very recently the different 

 private owners, the states and the federal government have been working 

 almost independently of each other. During the past year or so the idea 

 of co-operation has gained headway rapidly. Especially significant is the co- 

 operation among timberland owners for protection against their common 

 enemy, fire. 



To the Pacific Northwest belongs the credit for the first large timber 

 owners' protective associations. There are a number of such in the north- 

 western states, most of them belonging to a central organization, the Western 

 Forestry and Conservation Association. The general method pursued is to 

 assess the individual owners on an acreage basis, the funds being expended for 

 fire fighting, the employment of patrolmen and for educational purposes. The 

 strongest test of the efficiency of co-operative fire protection came soon after 

 these associations were formed, when the northwest experienced the most dan- 

 gerous fire season in its history. While the loss was heavy for the region as 

 a whole, only about Vo of 1% of the timber in the associations was destroyed. 



The first association of this kind in the East was formed in New Hamp- 

 shire in 1910. It represents an ownership of 1,200,000 acres and, during the 

 recent summer of severe drought, proved the efficiency of such co-operation. 

 An association has also been formed in the Lake States, representing an owner- 

 ship of 2,000,000 acres. It is interesting to note that these associations now 

 represent over 14,000,000 acres and that they offered protection to as much 

 more contiguous territory not represented in the associations. 



THE NEED OF CO-OPERATION 



These examples of the benefit derived from private co-operation indicate 

 the larger benefits which will result from full co-operation between the Federal 

 government, the state and local government and private owners. 



For the promotion of such co-operation there is no better practical in- 

 strument at hand than Section 2 of the Weeks Act, which appropriates 

 1200,000 to enable the Forest Service to co-operate with states in protecting 

 forests again.«it fire on the watersheds of navigable streams. This provision 

 has been in operation during the past summer and the results are extremely 

 gratifying. 



Tlie experience of my own state in this respect may be of interest. New 

 Hampshire was the first state to enter into co-operation with the Forest 

 Service under the Weeks Act and the work began on June 4, lf)ll. The ^7,200 

 allotted by the Federal government provided for the employment of 24 forest 

 patrolmen, who worked under the direction of the State Forester. The State 

 furnished the administrative machinery to make the patrolmen's work effective 

 by providing supervision through district chiefs, and by maintaining lookout 

 watchmen to co-operate with them. The actual fighting of fires was done by the 



