KESTKY 



without the needless loss of a second. To ^^ 



been established through the Forest Reserve and 

 -ed bv telephone with villages and towns, so that fires may be promp - - 



r.re figi- .ncentrated upon them with the least possfl 



The founda- ~ an admirable organization has been laid, but at 



rial - -re required. 



eer in the Adirondacks should have a list of the most 

 willing Q.L men for fire fighting in his locality and where they can be 



rea . in case of emergency he may make the promptest use of the 



law authorizing MIL - ."J men out to fight fire. Organisations of citizens 

 ild be formed to supplement the salaried force, and further definite 

 arrangenr i be made in advance for gathering men, equipment and 



su: - dthout loss of time when the need arist- 



Tl rt of fire protection is sis tenths of one cent per acre per 



annum for a property wh . alue in timber alone is not less than 



ten dollar- SI 'ed in another way, there is but one fire patrolman 



on f<>rtrT: 1 anils in T ~ondaeks to one hundred thousand acrr- limber- 



men in some of ihe w^--rm >~ates are now spending nearly four cents an 

 acre for fire : lands of their own, which are no more valuable in 



money and far less important to the community than the Xortl h M 



than double the present force is badly needed. 



-.re law. which rigidly forbids any burning of brush at certain 

 Bone reg -dless of the weather, and permits it at certain other seasons, 

 equally regardless of the weather, often increases. the danger from fire. Burn- 

 ing should not be allowed at any time e~ - n rinit. a^i with the 

 personal presence and supervision of a forest officer. 



The law now requires that the tops of coniferous trees shall be lopped 

 immediately after felling. The snow crashes lopped branches close to the 



- ': * ' .-" -: - - - :--. : - n :- -?:--'_-. :- ' ->-- 



fire. S<~>me criticism has been inaV of t^ value of loDninc tons. T L_ 



personal observation on land lumbered as much as lwen.lv vears ago where 



BO tops were lopped, and on similar land in the Adirondack? lumbered ten 



rs ago where lopping was practiced. I can assert with confidence that 



' " "-" ' ^ ; : "' "--*- ! '* :-:'-- ii -__ ; : , .- . --. - _- -.-;- ;- f re . 



- ~uce tops honestly lopped rot down in ten years more thoronghlv than 



unlopped tops in Twenrr. and -^v-- - - _ - ---,. -^ _..-. -- 



- - -. _ _ ^T'"~-_ " *" - ^T 



little or no material to feed a fire. Fire on areas well lopped -'= mch easier 



tight than on unlopped lands, reproduction of the forest is not hampe 

 and the general effect is entirely good. 



i :~ir~zi' 



The efficiency of a forest force depends lewongoodlawsthanitdoeson 



Inthepastthe rV.rest force has at times been composed largelv 



tical appointees, and has suffered in consequence. While a great im- 



ent in the force has taken place, I recommend stronglT that this im- 



