years ago the legislature authorized the appoint- 

 JL merit of a state forester with sufficient funds at his dis- 

 posal to establish a state forest service. 

 Naturally the first problem which presented itself was the 

 prevention of the destructive fires that endangered the lives 

 and property of the settlers in the northern part of the state 

 every year. Till these fires had been brought under control 

 nothing else could be done. Now that a good start has been 

 made in this direction the possibilities are almost unlimited. 

 The work done so far has not made a great show for it is 

 irgely in the form of permanent improvements which are not 

 sctacular. Hundreds of miles of trail and telephone line 

 ive been built in the back woods where few people see 

 lem. Scores of watch-towers enable the rangers to keep 

 lard over their too large districts, and many a cleared-out 

 )rtage has opened up the waterways into otherwise inac- 

 sssible country. And last, but by far the most important 

 all is the well organized, well trained force of experienced 

 ingers and patrolmen who are now prepared for any emer- 

 gency. 



This had been hard, unattractive work, performed away from 

 the haunts of men, put it is the foundation for great work in 

 the future. It was absolutely necessary in this first stage of 

 fire protection and it will not be useless in the work to come. 

 They are indeed permanent improvements and will last for all 

 time. 



The direct results of this fundamental work have been a 

 very marked decrease in the losses from forest fires, a great 

 thing in itself, but the indirect results are much greater and 

 more far-reaching. The service has gained the confidence of 

 the people. The rangers and patrolmen are looked up to 

 everywhere and the quiet, persistent way in which these men 

 have attended to their business has had a tremendous in- 

 fluence in educating the people to the necessity of guarding 



