368 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



used a portion of the season. It is necessary that three new stations be 

 established in this district along the boundary lines of Vermont, New 

 York and Connecticut, but the same consideration arises as to the future 

 maintenance as in District No. 3. It is hoped that some definite agree- 

 ment may be reached at once with the federal department and with 

 adjoining States which will permit the estabhshing of these stations, 

 thereby completing our observation system. 



Owing to the large number of people visiting our observation stations 

 it has been found advisable, from an educational standpoint, to provide 

 better means for reaching the observation rooms, so that they may be 

 made accessible to women and elderly people. With this point in vieW; 

 and with the generous contributions made by the different towns, we 

 have equipped all our towers purchased this year with spiral or fire-escape 

 stairs, with two landings before reaching the top. From the reports re- 

 ceived from our observers it is surprising to note that we have had nearly 

 3,000 people visit our towers this season, representing nearly every State 

 in the Union and many of the foreign countries. 



Forest Fire Equipment. 



Under an act of the Legislature passed in the spring of 1910, appropri- 

 ating S5,000 annually for forest fire protection, towns with a valuation 

 of SI, 500,000 or less are entitled to 50 per cent reimbursement on all 

 forest fire-fighting equipment they desire to purchase not exceeding $500, 

 no town being allowed an amount exceeding $250. All forest fire equip- 

 ment purchased under this act is approved by this department and placed 

 under the supervision of the town forest warden, subject to inspection at 

 all times by the State Fire Warden or the district forest wardens. 



We have at the present time 156 towns coming within the provisions 

 of this act, and during the four years it has been in operation 108 towns 

 have taken advantage of it. This year 53 towns have exhausted the 

 appropriation. Until this year it has been extremely difficult to impress 

 upon the citizens of the central and western parts of the State the impor- 

 tance of providing their towns with proper equipment, but of this year's 

 appropriation, over $3,000 was expended in Districts Nos. 3 and 4. The 

 style of equipment desired varies in the different parts of the State. 

 Throughout the eastern part fire extinguishers work to exceptionally good 

 advantage in checking any ordinary fire, but in the western hilly country 

 it is extremely difficult to convince the public that they can be used to 

 good advantage at such fires, many preferring the old method of using 

 shovels and dirt. These towns expend very little money for equipment of 

 any nature; consequently, out of 56 towns west of the Connecticut River 

 that are entitled to reimbursement but IS have taken advantage of the 

 act. 



There are at the present time 19S towns whose valuation exceeds 

 $1,500,000, and that are, therefore, not entitled to reimbursement. Sev- 



