Six :: :: THE TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Secretary's Report Covering Operations 

 for tke Year 1917 



The year covered by this report proved an active period in the 

 history of the Washington Forest Fire Association. Toward the latter 

 end of the season the fire situation became very serious with numerous 

 fires throughout our territory. 



Notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions which confronted us 

 expenses were not much above normal for previous seasons and the 

 assessments were held down to 2c per acre which proved sufficient to 

 carry the Association through the year. 



During the past year the Association gained 148 new members, 

 the total membership now consisting of 346 individuals and cor- 

 porations. 



The total area of timber lands listed in the Association aggregates 

 2,833,071 acres, a gain from last year of 291,092 acres. 



The net cost of operation for the year amounted to $56,425.28 

 or 1.99 cents per acre counting membership holdings. 



The certificate of Price Waterhouse & Company, Certified Public 

 Accountants, on foregoing page to which reference is hereby made, 

 contains income and expenditure account for the year and shows the 

 present financial condition of the Association. 



Working under the provisions of the new Forest Fire Law en- 

 acted by the legislature of 1917, the Association entered into agree- 

 ment with the State Forester to patrol and protect some 600,000 acres 

 of timber land in its territory belonging to non-members of the Asso- 

 ciation who have made no attempt to comply with the patrol sections 

 of this Law and against whose lands assessments have been levied by 

 the State Board of Forest Commissioners for this purpose. The 

 Association is to be recompensated for this service to the amount of 

 2c per acre as assessments are collected and paid in to the State 

 Forester. 



The new Forest Fire Law above referred to, has proved very 

 beneficial to forest protection in this State. Under its provisions 

 timber owners who have heretofore escaped their share of expenses 



