226 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



spring wagon, together with some shovels and hoes, many of the 

 fires could be easily handled before they could do much damage. 



Believing, therefore, that the State can afford to encourage 

 the towns to make a definite beginning in stopping forest fires, 

 I recommend the following for your consideration : that the 

 State offer through the State Forester to reimburse towns 50 per 

 cent, of their exj^enditures for forest fire fighting equipment, or 

 in making forest fire protective belts, to an amount not to exceed 

 $250 for each town thus accepting such aid. 



This idea is practically that now in operation by the State 

 in the construction of our State highways, which has proved 

 a great success. The incentive for towns that would otherwise 

 move slowly is apparent. 



The total expense, were every town to accept, would amount 

 to about $80,250, — not one-third of the annual loss from forest 

 fires, and with every possibility of the expenditure meaning a 

 saving of ultimate millions in future values to the State. 



Plan for establishing Forkst Firio Lookouts. 



This plan provides for the erection of lookout towers on va- 

 rious high points throughout the State, with the object of de- 

 tecting and locating forest fires while yet in an incipient stage. 

 The plan is by no means a new one, even in this State, as is 

 evidenced by the towers already in use in Plymouth and Dux- 

 bury, and described in the recent fire bulletin issued by this 

 office ; while it is generally conceded that the system of towers 

 used by the large timber operators in Maine is one of their 

 most valued assets, since it affords means of preventing fires 

 which would otherwise destroy millions of feet of valuable 

 tind)er. 



But, Avhilc the principle and the results are thus similai-, the 

 method of application in Massachusetts must necessarily differ 

 greatly from that in ]\Iaine. This is because of the different 

 physical conditions of the two States, as we may say; for, while 

 the forest regions of Maine are practically in the central and 

 northern part of the State, and often lie for miles iu uubroken 

 tracts, in Massachusetts there are no real forests, properly so- 

 called, and the tracts of woodland that do exist are scattered 



