T. AMERICAN FORESTRY 



demonstrates beyond question the importance of extending the practice of 

 forestry to commercial lumbering operations. 



In* order to achieve this end. it is necessary that all of the different 

 forces pursue their work in the closest harmony. The results already accom- 

 pli- - .<m wonderful when we realize that until very recently the different 

 privuii- "\vners. the states and the federal government have been working 

 alini.st independently of each other. During the past year or so the idea 

 if cn-.perati..n has gained headway rapidly. Especially significant is the co- 

 -. {..-ration among timberland owners for protection against their common 



i-riemy. tire. 



To the Pacific Northwest belongs the credit for the first large timber 



owners' protective associations. There are a number of such in the north- 



ern >tates. most of them belonging to a central organization, the Western 



v and Conservation Association. The general method pursued is to 



H as ~he individual owners on an acreage basis, the funds being expended for 



tire fighting, the employment of patrolmen and for educational purposes. The 



>tr< ingest test of the efficiency of co-operative fire protection came soon after 



these associations were formed, when the northwest experienced, the most dan- 



irerous fire season in its history. While the loss was heavy for the region as 



a whole, only about ^ of l^c of the timber in the associations was destroyed. 



The first association of this kind in the East was formed in New Hamp- 

 shire in l'.10. It represents an ownership of 1.200.000 acres and. during the 

 recent summer of severe drought, proved the efficiency of such co-operation. 

 An association has also been formed in the Lake States, representing an owner- 

 ship <>f 2. HIM 1. 1 MII i a civs. It is interesting to note that these associations now 

 represent over 14.nnii.iMjO acres and that they offered protection to as much 

 mure contiguous territory not represented in the associations. 



THE NEED OF CO-OPERATION 



These examples of the benefit derived from private co-operation indicate 

 the larger benefits which will result from full co-operation between the Federal 

 rnment. the state and local government and private oicners. 

 For the promotion of such co-operation there is no better practical in- 

 dent at hand than Section 2 of the Weeks Act. which appropriates 

 K30 to enable the Forest Service to co-operate with states in protecting 

 against fire on the watersheds of navigable streams. This pro vis: . 

 B -n in operation during the past summer and the results are extremelv 

 gratifying. 



The experience of my own state in this respect may be of interest. New 

 ^hire was the first state to enter into co-operation with the Forest 



the Weeks Act and the work began on Jni> 



ie Federal government provided for the employment of 24 forest 



men who worked under the direction of the State Forester. The State 



be administrative machinery to make the patrolmen's work effective 



ng .npernaon through district chiefs, and by maintaining lookout 



hmen to cooperate with them. The actual fighting of fires was done bv the 



