FIREWARDEN'S REPORT. 59 



FEDERAL FIRE PATROL. 



The aid furnished by the Federal Government is one of the 

 most valuable that the Fire Service enjoys. Under the co-opera- 

 tive agreement first entered into in 1911 the State's efforts are 

 recognized and $2,000 a year allotted for the execution of the 

 so-called Weeks Law. That law seeks to protect the water- 

 sheds of navigable streams and, as interpreted, applies in New 

 Jersey only to the northern rivers. Under the agreement the 

 money appropriated can be used only to pay lookouts and pat- 

 rolmen in that section. 



The first thoroughly equipped and continuous forest fire look- 

 out in the State was installed this season under this agreement 

 and through the generous co-operation of the Board of Street 

 and Water Commissioners of Newark. A high tower already 

 standing on the city's property on Bearfort Mountain was pro- 

 vided by the Commissioners with telephone connection and a 

 suitable house for the watcher's headquarters. Since the facili- 

 ties became available, in the middle of June, a watcher has been 

 on constant duty. With good binoculars, a detailed map of the 

 territory which the tower commands and a thorough knowledge 

 of the location of, and* means of reaching, the local wardens 

 promptly, the watcher has not failed to announce every fire that 

 has occurred within his range. 



Patrol work in the spring and summer was limited to two 

 men who covered areas of peculiar hazard, doing the work by 

 saddle horse or driving because of their extended territories. 

 The entire absence of fires of size within the patrolled areas, 

 and the almost negligible number of fires of any kind within 

 these territories evidence the value of the work. With the 

 opening of the gunning season on October 10, the force of 

 patrolmen was increased to fourteen. Their routes covered the 

 bulk of the territory traversed by gunners and their activities 

 practically eliminated fires. The work done along this line for 

 three years past has counted for more than the actual fire con- 

 trol afforded in that it has convinced the public that forest pro- 

 tection does protect. Without patrol the same result undoubt- 

 edly would have been reached, but far more slowly and at the 

 cost of many an additional acre burned. 



