No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 279 



reach this amount there has been included all the scrub growth and old 

 pastures), it will require only twenty-five years to completely destroy 

 every acre of forest land within this State. Then what is the result? 

 Simply this: not only are we compelled to go elsewhere for our timber 

 supply, but we have created a condition which seriously threatens our 

 future water supply, for it has been demonstrated by the greatest engineers 

 in the world that forests play an important role in the regulation of rivers. 

 They retain for some time the rainfall and lessen the violence of flood 

 flow. Whenever forests have been destroyed stream flow has always be- 

 come more irregular and floods have increased in number and violence. 

 Therefore, is it not time the public were awakened and a more thorough 

 organization perfected to avert these dangers? 



In order that this department might have a better understanding as to 

 the conditions throughout the State, the district forest wardens have 

 visited as many towns as possible, and have submitted a written report 

 to this office as to the conditions in each town, the type of man the warden 

 is, and the facilities the towns have for fighting forest fires. These reports 

 show the two extremes. Many towns have been fortunate in obtaining 

 the services of a man for the position of forest warden who has had wide 

 experience and training in handling forest fires, and have equipped them- 

 selves with modern fire-fighting apparatus, while other towns have forest 

 wardens who are indifferent with regard to their duties, and who have 

 taken no measures whatever to provide proper fire-fighting equipment. 

 Therefore it remains very necessary that mayors and selectmen use more 

 precaution in selecting these men, and as fast as the ideal man who has 

 the energy and courage to make a thorough and efliicient forest warden is 

 found, have the appointment a permanent one so far as possible. We also 

 desire to urge upon mayors and selectmen the importance of equipping 

 the forest wardens with modern forest fire-fighting apparatus. Again, 

 forest fire laws will never be respected unless enforced. Examples must 

 be made of those who violate them, so that others will be restrained from 

 negligence in the use of fire. 



Forest Fire Reports. 



Town forest wardens undoubtedly do not appreciate the importance of 

 making a complete report to this department of each fire as soon as it is 

 extinguished. The system of fire reports has been in use but a very short 

 period, and while the results along this line have been fairly satisfactory, 

 the reports have been misleading and not absolutely correct. The two 

 important points in fire protection are, first, preventive methods and 

 education; and second, effective fire fighting. The only way this depart- 

 ment has of knowing whether we are completely covering these points is 

 by its system of reports. If the reports show that we are not covering 

 these two points, then we are in a position to suggest a preventive method; 

 but understand this is an impossibility unless we have these reports as 

 soon as the fire is extinguished. For instance, take the railroad fire situa- 



