32 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



o 



At the Wednesday sessions C. Y. R. Townsend of Negaunee, Michigan, 

 described the protective methods of the Clevehind-Cliffs Iron Company. R. H. 

 Aishton. vice-president of the Nortl^vi'estern Railway, spolvC on ''The Interests 

 of the Ixailroads in Protecting the Forests." This address appears on another 

 page. The next speaker was Thornton A. Green of Ontonagon, Michigan, 

 president of the recently organized Northern Forest Protective Association, 

 whose address on "The Interest of the Lumberman in Practical Forest Legis- 

 lation," we also print on other pages. 



The closing session was given to a general discussion, and Wednesday 

 evening the members of the conference were entertained by the Commercial 

 Club of Saint Paul at a banquet at the Saint Paul Hotel. 



A noteworthy feature of the conference was the fact that notwithstanding 

 the varied interests that were represented, the resoluions received unanimous 

 and hearty approval, a fact which promises well for putting them into effect. 

 The committee was made up of T. A. Green, J. C. Knox, Thomas B. Wyman, 

 R. M. Aishton, and F. E. Michelson, representing Michigan; E. M, Griffith, 

 J. F. De Vor, W. H. Bissell, W. A. Holt, and William P>ray, representing Wis- 

 consin; W. A. McGonagle, J. C. Matchitt, H. Oldenberg, A. F. Woods, H. R. 

 Mackenzie, and E. G. Cheyney, representing Minnesota. 



The Resolutions. 



Resolved. That we recommend to the legislatures of our states: 



First, that the forest fire protection of each state and such other branches of state 

 work as may be deemed best to combine with it, be placed under the control of a non- 

 partisan commission empowered, as fully as possible under the constitution of the 

 different states, to carry on the work, and under civil service rules. Such commission 

 should represent all the interests involved as far as possible, and we recommend that 

 such commission place the work in charge of a chief forester who should be a pro- 

 fessional graduate forester and that the commission employ such trained foresters and 

 other assistants as may be necessary; define their duties and fix their salaries; said 

 employees to be engaged under such civil service regulations as the commission may 

 prescribe. 



Second, that it is the sense of this conference that the present forest fire warden 

 service of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota is totally inadequate to meet the existing 

 fire hazard to both life and property, and that forest protection service, to become 

 efficient, must be greatly extended. To this end we recommend an adequate forest 

 patrol system, maintained by the state, organized and operated by the commission 

 referred to. 



Third, that the commission be authorized to cooperate with the national government, 

 the several adjoining states and such associations and organizations as the commission 

 may find necessary to best protect the timber resources of the state. 



Fourth, that this conference is opposed to a general slash burning law, as experience 

 has proven it unsatisfactory, impracticable and dangerous. We recommend, however, 

 that the commission shall be given authority to order the disposal of dangerous slashings 

 sufficient to establish a safe fire line around standing timber or other valuable property. 



Fifth, that this conference advocates legislation providing strict regulation of the 

 burning of brush and debris in clearing land during the dry season, such burning to be 

 under the direction of state fire patrolmen, under such regulations as the commission 

 may prescribe. 



Sixth, that the burning of all debris on the rights of way of the various railroads 

 be under the control and direction of the state forest patrol. Further, that under special 

 conditions as directed by the state forest patrol the railway companies maintain a 

 patrol, properly equipped following their trains, also that all railroad and logging loco- 

 motives and traction engines must be equipped with the most practical spark arresting 

 devices (subject to inspection and approval of the commission). 



Seventh, whereas the building of fire lines around exposed property, including settle- 

 ments, villages and towns has proved a most effective means for the control and extin- 

 guishment of fires, we recommend that one of the principal duties of the patrolmen, 

 working under the direction of the commission, should be to establish such fire lines 

 where necessary for protection of property- 

 Eighth, we recommend as the most effective measures for preventing and fighting 

 serious fires, adequate means of transportation and communication, to include trails, 

 telephone lines and lookout stations, and that the efforts of the commission should be 

 exerted toward the construction and establishment of the same as rapidly as consistent. 



