FOREST COMMISSIOXER's REPORT. 21 



early settlers were doubtless the cause of the destruction of so 

 much timber. In 1822, according to Mr. Stevens — and in 

 this matter his memory is confirmed by the country and its 

 trees — a great fire started in at Eustis, swept south into north- 

 ern Coplin, and thence east, burning all the south side of Mt. 

 Bigelow and some of the lower land at its foot. In 1844, 

 again, another fire started in the same locality and ran east 

 down the Dead river, leaving in its wake a burnt strip twenty 

 miles long and of varying but considerable width. Now 

 these old burns are by no means waste land. They bear con- 

 siderable pine for instance, rapidlj'- growing, and some of it 

 now of merchantable size. Larae areas also are well timbered 

 with white birch, which, when near enough to railwa}', is as 

 valuable as almost an^^ stand of old growth timber. But from the 

 sprace point of view, these lands have to be thrown out of 

 account. Some pulp stuff, and scattering trees of larger size 

 are now to be found, but practically their significance in regard 

 to the spruce supply must for many 3'ears be slight. 



At Flagstaff one main purpose in going there was fulfilled 

 in meeting John R. Viles. Mr. Viles is an excellent example 

 of a class of men who are very essential to the lumljer busi- 

 ness of the State, men who combine ability for business 

 management with the capacity for knowing thoroughly a 

 piece of country. ]Mr. Viles in the course of two or three 

 hours conversation posted me on the character and condition 

 of the towns about ; gave me an idea of the lay of the land 

 and recounted in general the history of the cut — nil valuable 

 and pertinent information which it would have taken weeks 

 of detailed inquiry to gain. The Dead river was i^{t"ol!j7of 

 the earliest of the upper waters of the Kennebec to i^ead river, 

 be cut for lumber. This was true of both pine and spruce, 

 and in the recent scouring of the country for pulp wood it 

 has again figured prominently. The main reason for this is 

 the fact that the river, though rough, is comparatively easy 

 to drive. The whole Kenneljec is favora])ly fixed in that 

 respect, and among its tributaries, the Dead river possesses 

 some advantages. The average cost of its drive for the last 



