No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 225 



and wuleiiins;' of the right of way have been clone by the Xew 

 York, Kew llaveu & Hartford Railroad throughout the year, 

 2)arlicularly in the Cape section. 



FoEKST Fire Deputies needed. 



The forest warden law has undoubtedly been tested far enough 

 to be pronounced a success as another step in perfecting our 

 organized eiforts against forest fires. I now propose the idea of 

 empowering the State Forester to appoint deputies at large to 

 assist him. ]\rany of our forest wardens need instruction and 

 co-operation in getting their work well in hand. The best way 

 to teach these men just how to accomplish results in fighting 

 forest fires is to confer with them right on the ground, and dem- 

 onstrate what can be accomplished and how it can be done. 

 There are experienced men whom the State Forester coiild in 

 times of emergency delegate to assist, and, if need be, with 

 authority to take charge. 



In the case of the gypsy and brown-tail moth agents, these 

 men are at present mounted on motor cycles and hence are 

 familiar with the country. They are already State employees, 

 and men interested in the preservation of the forests. They 

 will gladly acquaint themselves with modern methods of fight- 

 ing forest fires, and, were they appointed deputies authorized 

 to assume responsibility, the State would have their services at 

 no extra compensation. Of course this would apply only 

 throughout the moth-infested territory, but other plans could be 

 worked out for the remainder of the State at a minimum cost. 



State Subsidy to Towxs for Better Forest Fire Pro- 

 tection. 



The time has come when we can ill afford to allow forest fires 

 to run rampant over the State, destroying each year thousands 

 of dollars worth of property. 



In many cases the reason for present conditions is that a great 

 many of our rural towns have nothing in the way of equipment 

 with which to fight forest fires when they occur. With a simple 

 equipment, consisting of a few hand chemical fire extinguishers 

 provided with extra charges and loaded into a light one-horse 



