Wireless May be Used in Fighting Fires. 



5. The means of communication throughout the North 

 woods had heretofore been only as rapid as a man could travel 

 over the rough forest trails, or as fast as he could paddle a 

 canoe along the streams. It needs no argument to convince 

 even the most skeptical that if we are going to successfully 

 fight any fire, we must commence the work of extinguishment at 

 the earliest moment. It would appear ludicrous to a city 

 dweller to walk to the fire engine house to give information 

 of a fire, and then for the engine and equipment to proceed 

 in the same leisurely fashion to the scene of the fire. No, we 

 must adopt the most expeditious methods consistent with the 

 funds at our disposal, and so the telephone is being used as 

 part of our communication system. It is only a part of the 

 scaffold, the day is not far off when it will be laid aside for a 

 more efficient method. Wireless telegraphy is being seriously 

 considered for use in the forests, and there appears no reason 

 why its practicability should be questioned. 



Canoes are used by forest officers in patrol work, and in 

 places where gasoline launches can be used to advantage 

 they have given excellent results. 



Co-operation of Pubfic Necessary. 



That effective methods governing forest preservation may 

 be adopted, which shall tend to reduce and control forest fires, 

 and perpetuate tree growth in order that our timber wealth 

 may be conserved and profitably exploited, both for our pres- 

 ent people and for coming generations, there is one part of 

 the scaffolding which will be moulded irfto the finished build- 

 ing, the education of the public. We cannot expect results 

 if we fail to secure the co-operation of the majority of the 

 people, and they in their turn cannot be expected to take a 

 lively interest in the aims of the forest service unless they 

 are kept informed of its policies and ideals. 



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