District 1 Notes 285 



The problem of rations for smoke chasers is now receiving 

 considerable study. It seems to be impossible to outline any ra- 

 tions which will enable the men to do hard work, with a less 

 weight than three pounds per day per man. 



The three District warehouses built last year — one at Missoula, 

 one at Kalispell, and one at Spokane — have been about 50 per cent 

 stocked. They have been proved to be amply worth while and 

 every effort is now being made to stock them to full capacity. 

 The equipment maintained will be for third line of defense 

 only. The equipment for first and second line defense will be 

 maintained in the Forest. By way of explanation, I might say 

 that first line of defense is the smoke chaser's force, consisting 

 of one and two men in a place. The second line of defense is the 

 settlers, administrative officers and others locally available. The 

 third line of defense is the floating labor force available at the 

 larger towns. 



