28 SECONB ANNUAL CONVENTION 



ered navigable. As a general basis for decisions on the question of naviga- 

 bility the reports of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, are used. 



The work is being conducted on a conservative basis and the fund available 

 for the purpose used so as to encourage local effort in as many different 

 States as possible. The educational value of the work is very great, and the 

 Government desires every State that can fulfill the requirements to receive a 

 share of the fund. Our policy is to make the appropriation last three years. 

 The expenditures in 1911 were practically $39,000. The allotments for 1912 

 will aggregate about $70,000. No State receives more than $10,000 in any 

 one year. 



The aim is to assist each State as far as possible, helping especially the one 

 that has a hard time helping itself. The State that can make only a small 

 appropriation may have it duplicated, while the one that has an appropriation 

 which is relatively very large and can of itself provide safe protection must 

 expect a relatively small allotment. 



The cooperative agreement provides that the State supply the Service with a 

 comprehensive fire plan, including maps showing the areas to be protected, 

 the headquarters and approximate routes of patrolmen, and all features nec- 

 essary to a clear understanding of the State's plan of fire control. 



The expenditures made by the Federal Government are exclusively for the 

 salaries of patrolmen, including men assigned to lookout duty, railroad patrol, 

 and the like. This is advisable in order to simplify the Federal inspection 

 of the work. The expenditures of the State, which are to offset those of the 

 Federal Government, may, however, properly include any expenditure for the 

 purpose of protecting forested watersheds of navigable streams from fire. 

 The construction of lookout stations or other protective facilities and propor- 

 tionate amounts of supervisory expenses are proper charges on the part of 

 the State against the expenditures made by the Federal Government. A dis- 

 tinction is made between State patrolmen and Federal patrolmen, which 

 facilitates keeping separate the work charged to the State and that charged 

 to the Federal Government. 



The State Forester or similar oflBcer is given a Forest Service appointment, 

 which permits him to employ Federal patrolmen and certify to their services 

 on Government vouchers. He is given as much authority and latitude as pos- 

 sible in the expenditure of Federal funds. The Forest Service places him in 

 practically the same position as a National Forest Supervisor by allowing him 

 a wide degree of discretion while at the same time making him fully account- 

 able for results. He selects the Federal patrolmen, instructs them in their 

 duties, and supervises their work. 



The Federal patrolmen must have such police powers for the prevention 

 and control of forest fires as the laws of the State provide; they must be 

 authorized to employ assistance in fighting fires; and they must be equipped 

 with fire fighting tools. 



The Forest Service inspects the cooperative work on the protected areas, 

 and can withdraw its approval of any area or terminate the employment of 

 the State officer or any Federal patrolman. 



