FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 



In the two years past, which is the first period since the incor- 

 poration of the Maine Forestry District, there has been avail- 

 able under the act, assessing a mill and a half on the valuation 

 of the wild lands, the sum of $63,945.44 for each year. 



Of the amount expended the largest item is for patrolling, and 

 that is as it should be, following the old maxim that an ounce 

 of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as every dollar expend- 

 ed in patrolling and extinguishing the incipient fires found by 

 such patrolmen, undoubtedly saves thousands of dollars of dam- 

 age which would accrue if the small fires were swept into con- 

 flagrations. 



The money expended for the construction and equipment of 

 lookout stations and the purchase of tools for fighting fire, which 

 for the two years has amounted to $19,632.05, must be consid- 

 ered in the light of permanent improvement, as with proper care 

 which the department is bound to give them, they will last for 

 years. A few more stations may have to be constructed and 

 more tools purchased before the district is fully equipped, but 

 it is not expected there will be another period oi two years when 

 charges against these two accounts will be large. 



In the matter of extinguishment of fires no estimate of the 

 exact amount that will be required can be made and one year 

 must necessarily differ from another as is shown by the record of 

 the two seasons past. In 1909 the amount charged to extinguish- 

 ing fires was $10,944.80, while in 19 10 the total expended under 

 that head was only $1,366.14. 



The expenditure in detail will be found in the report of the 

 State Auditor, but a summary of the two years is hereby given : 



