PATROL AND LOOKOUT SYSTEM. 



One of the first things attempted and carried out under the 

 conditions made possible by creating the Maine Forestry Dis- 

 trict, was the enlargement of the patrol and lookout systems. 



Eight years ago when the first law was passed looking to 

 the protection of Maine's forests a goodly number of fire war- 

 dens were appointed and so far as possible during the dry and 

 dangerous periods the most exposed places were patrolled, but 

 necessarily only a limited amount of such work could be done 

 with an appropriation of only $10,000, which had to be devoted 

 to extinguishment as well as prevention. 



Experience has taught all who have made a study of the pro- 

 tection of forests against fire that first in importance is the pro- 

 tection that can be gained by proper patrol. It has been the cus- 

 tom of the Forest Commissioner each spring to meet the land 

 owners of the different sections of the state at some convenient 

 and central point to talk over and plan the season's work. At 

 the meeting held in 1909 after the passage of the Maine Forestry 

 District act we made known our plans for extending the patrol 

 system and such plans met with hearty approval of the land 

 owners. 



An efficient corps of chief wardens were appointed, men being 

 selected who were recommended by the land owners as being 

 thoroughly familiar with the territory assigned to their care. 

 Under the chiefs were placed enough men to cover the most ex- 

 posed sections and there was not a township of wild land that 

 was not included in the routes of the patrolmen. The water- 

 ways and roads most frequently travelled by rivermen and 

 sportsmen were particularly well looked after as were the town- 

 ships lying along the railways. 



Of the amount appropriated in 1909 there was used in the 

 patrol system alone, including amounts paid the chief and dep- 

 uty wardens the sum of $31,131.79, making more than one-half 

 of the entire amount expended in 1909 going directly for patrol 



