A WOMAN AS A LOOKOUT 



181 



Miss DAGGETT ox HER PET HORSE AT THE HIGHEST POINT OF 

 KLAMATH PEAK, LOOKING NORTH. 



in spite of the fact that they are very 

 heavy and numerous at that elevation. 

 One soon becomes accustomed to the 

 racket. But in the damage they cause 

 starting fires lies their chief interest to 

 the lookout, for it requires a quick eye 

 to detect, in among the rags of fog which 

 arise in their wake, the small puff of 

 smoke which tells of some tree struck 

 in a burnable spot. Generally it shows 

 at once, but in one instance there was a 

 lapse of nearly two weeks before the 

 fall of the smouldering top fanned up 

 enough smoke to be seen. 



"At night the new fires show up like 

 tiny candle flames, and are easily 

 spotted against the dark background of 

 the ridges, but are not so easy to exactly 

 locate for an immediate report. Upon 

 the speed and accuracy of this report, 

 however, the efficiency of the Service 

 depends, as was proven by the sum- 

 mer's record of extra small acreage burned 



in spite of over forty fires reported. 

 'To the electrical storms are easily 

 attributed most of our present - day 

 fires, as traveler and citizen alike are 

 daily feeling more responsible for the 

 preservation of the riches bestowed by 

 nature, and although some still hold to 

 the same views as one old timer, who 

 recently made the comment, when 

 lightning fires were being discussed, 

 'that he guessed that was the Al- 

 mighty's way of clearing out the forest,' 

 the general trend of opinion seems to be 

 that man, in the form of the Forest 

 Service, is doing an excellent work in 

 keeping a watchful eye on the limits of 

 that hitherto wholesale clearing. A 

 good work and long may it prosper, is 

 the earnest wish of one humble unit, 

 who thanks the men of the Service one 

 and all, for the courtesy and considera- 

 tion which gave her the happiest sum- 

 mer of her life.' 



Minnesota has a forested area of 28 million acres, the largest of any State east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



There are approximately four million acres of timber land in New Hampshire of which about 

 half is in farmers' woodlots. 



Forest fires in the United States have caused an average annual loss of 70 human lives and the 

 destruction of 25 million dollars worth of timber. 



Juniper from the Indian reservations of New Mexico and Arizona may prove an excellent source 

 of material for lead pencils. Manufacturers are searching the world for pencil woods. 



