12 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



Apart from one appropriation of $10,000, which lapsed because it 

 was insufficient to pay for any desirable lake, no money has 

 ever before been provided to execute this law. The need of 

 forest patrolmen and of increasing the number of lookouts in- 

 volves an expenditure that will make it necessary to ask for a 

 small increase in the appropriation for the fire service. An ef- 

 fort will be made to meet all demands for advice and assistance 

 and to care for the state forest reserves without seeking an in- 

 crease in the appropriation for forestry. 



THE FUTURE. 



The work of the Commission is thoroughly organized and 

 the way to attained results is open. But the time has come to 

 take several forward steps. The first and most important is to 

 reduce the fire hazard along the railroads. Fires started by indi- 

 viduals are becoming rarer, the permit law and the warden ser- 

 vice are effective, but railroad locomotives are driven under ever 

 increasing pressure, they discharge sparks in spite of spark ar- 

 resters, and fires are set in great numbers whenever vegetation 

 on and adjoining the right-of-way is inflammable. The Commis- 

 sion acknowledges the efforts of most of the railroads, not all 

 of them, to prevent fires and to extinguish those that are started ; 

 but that is not enough. Another step is to make our shade tree 

 laws more effective. A third is to get more and better public 

 roads in the woodland sections. They will facilitate fire control 

 and make communication easier, but above all, they will open up 

 parts of the State that are now unknown and undeveloped. 

 Another assistant forester to give special attention to shade trees 

 and to woodlots is urgently needed. For his salary and ex- 

 penses, and for additional help in caring for the forest reserves 

 $3,000 a year will be required. 



OFFICE ROOM. 



The work of the Commission is conducted with difficulty in 

 the limited office space provided. The State Forester, Assistant 

 Forester and State Firewarden, with their library and records, 

 occupy one moderate sized room, each has frequent conferences 



