No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 275 



telephone communication with over 1,500 town forest wardens and 

 deputy town forest wardens. In connection with the new maps now being 

 made for the season of 1912 we are instaUing our new triangulation sys- 

 tem, which will be used in extreme cases where the observer is not sure 

 as to the exact location of a fire. This system is not in general use, as 

 far as known, in any other section of the country, Massachusetts being 

 the first State to adopt it for forest fire purposes. By this method fires 

 can be located more quickly and much more accurately than would other- 

 wise be possible. An explanation of the system is shown in cut on page 274. 



The steel towers with which we are now equipping a number of the 

 observation stations have an observation room 8 feet by 8 feet, with glass 

 enclosure as far as possible, thus allowing our watchman to be continually 

 on the lookout and also be thoroughly protected from inclement weather. 

 Within these rooms are maps, telephone, report blanks, etc.; also a time 

 clock, showing the exact time the observers are on duty. 



Owing to the short period our stations have been in operation, and 

 the amount of rainfall during this time, our reports show only 200 fires 

 observed, none of which burned over 3 acres. What the outcome would 

 have been had the stations not been in operation of course we do not 

 know, but if we are to base an estimate on our experience in the past, it 

 would be no exaggeration to say that thousands of acres of valuable timber 

 were saved, owing to the fact that the lookout stations make it possible 

 for the fires to be detected and extinguished in their incipient stage. 



Forest Fire Equipment. 



The Legislature in the spring of 1910 passed an act authorizing the 

 State Treasurer to reimburse towns having a valuation of $1,500,000 or 

 less 50 per cent, of whatever amount they might expend for forest fire 

 equipment, providing this amount does not exceed $500, and providing, 

 also, that the equipment purchased has the approval of the State Forester. 

 As the law was not passed until after the annual town meetings of that 

 year, but 16 towns availed themselves of the opportunity, and only 

 $988.65 was expended, the amount expended by each town being very 

 small during the year. The appropriation being continuous, the same 

 amount was available again this year and 29 towns have taken advantage 

 of the act, not only in purchasing small equipment, but several towns 

 have practically used up their full allowance and purchased one of the 

 wagons with full equipment. The amount expended this year to Novem- 

 ber 30, of which accounts have been received, is $3,917.32, thus showing 

 a very marked increase over last year. 



I might add that this department holds receipts from the different town 

 forest wardens for the equipment purchased under this act. The equip- 

 ment is also subject to inspection by the State Fire Warden or by a dis- 

 trict forest warden at any time. The following table contains the names 

 of the towns that have received reimbursement, the amount thereof, and 

 the kind of equipment purchased : — 



