Conservation Commission 91 



men stated that they favored its passage, and the bill was finally 

 passed. 



New York was allotted $8,000, which was used to pay the 

 salaries of seventeen observers on mountain stations for six and 

 one-half months. During the dry period of the early fall eight 

 additional observers were designated as emergency employees 

 under this act and paid from this fund for a period of about five 

 weeks. 



The cooperation of rural mail carriers and star route carriers 

 was continued as in 1913. Two fires, according to the records, 

 were reported by these men in 1914. 



Recommendations 



The greatest single need of the fire protective organization is 

 an assured and ample appropriation. In my opinion, the com- 

 plete summer force of rangers and observers should be appointed 

 not later than April 15, and in some districts these men should 

 be on duty by April 1. During the past two years it has been 

 impossible to do this on account of the uncertainty as to the 

 amount which would be available for the work. 



Furthermore, there is need of at least eight new mountain 

 stations. These stations should be constructed, equipped and 

 manned in the spring of 1915. The equipment at all the 

 mountain stations should be gone over and much of it renewed. 

 A few of our lookout towers are becoming unsafe and should be 

 replaced with steel towers. 



The publication of a Manual of Instructions for the use of 

 rangers and observers is strongly urged. Copy for such a pub- 

 lication has been prepared and could be made ready for printing 

 at once. A manual of this kind would make it easier for the field 

 employees to do their work right ; it would greatly lessen the work 

 of this office in correcting errors made in the field ; and it would 

 improve the efficiency of the force. 



With but one exception our rangers are being paid sixty dollars 

 per month and their traveling expenses. The maximum salary 

 which the law allows a ranger is seventy-five dollars per month. 

 Rangers' expense accounts average thirty dollars per month. I 

 believe we would be able to secure better men for the position of 



