THAT splendid organization for the training of the boys 

 along the lines that will lead to useful manhood, The 

 Boy Scouts, has for its motto, "Be Prepared." This is 

 the basic principle of any service that has protection for its 

 object. It is particularly true of the forest service. "Being 

 prepared" means everything. The success of failure of the 

 forest service, as is the case of every other thing in the world, 

 rests upon the preparation. 



A first department in a great city that finds itself lacking 

 proper equipment or water pressure when the big conflagra- 

 tion comes fails in its purpose to the extent that things that 

 should have been done were left undone. 



Work of Preparation Goes On. 



Realizing the necessity of preparation all of the time, the 

 state forest service is continually at work making itself ready. 

 Trails have been built so that fire fighters can reach the most 

 inaccessible places. Canoe portages have been cut in order 

 to make transportation easier and quicker. Telephone lines 

 are being built in order to insure quick communication when 

 necessary to summon aid to fight fires. Fire-breaks are being 

 constructed. All these things are part of the process of mak- 

 ing ready. 



The real test of the efficiency of the forest service in any 

 state or nation is said to come when the dry spells come on, 

 when the Red Demon starts its rampage. The test will show 

 just the effectiveness of the preparation and the precaution- 

 ary measures taken. 



For several years, the work of trail building, construction 

 of lookout and fire-break and telephone lines, has gone on. 

 In the wet seasons, when the danger from fire was at the 

 minimum, the rangers and their men, have been at work 

 making things ready. 



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