228 BOARD OF AGKICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



striiction necessary. Of 22 stations in Maine, the cost runs 

 anywhere from $350 to $1,000, depending largely on the length 

 of telephone connection. Telephone lines have cost there from 

 $30 to $40 a mile. 



One of the large lumber companies owning timber lands in 

 Maine recommends a number of extinguishers on hand at the 

 watch tower for use in case of emergency, and also the main- 

 tenance of a patrol during especially dry times. 



As regards the expense of maintenance, it seems only fair 

 that it should be borne in part at least by the towns to which 

 protection is given. 



Assistant needed in Forest Fire Work. 



The time has come when the State Forester should have the 

 assistance of a man who can spend his whole time on forest fire 

 work. For the next few years each town should be visited, and 

 the whole matter of forest fire prevention gone over carefully 

 with the local wardens. Your State Forester cannot get over 

 each of our 321 towns and give them the attention they should 

 have regarding forest fires, and at the same time keep the refor- 

 estation, moth work, lectures, correspondence, etc., going. With 

 a competent assistant, however, he can direct the work, and 

 save great values that each year at present are a total loss. Such 

 an assistant could be provided with a motor cycle, by means of 

 which even the most inaccessible country sections could be easily 

 reached. The idea would be to keep this man in the field, par- 

 ticularly during the forest fire season. The expenses of such a 

 man would be his salary and travelling expenses. 



Power Sprayers as Forest Fire Equipment. 



With the high-power engines and improved pumps on the 

 modern power sprayers, we have an outfit not only adapted to 

 spraying our tallest trees in moth-suppression work, but when 

 properly handled they can be used very effectively for fighting 

 forest fires. While these outfits are rather heavy when loaded, 

 and need a strong team to handle them on the ordinary roads, 

 thoy may need four horses when operating in Avoodlands. The 

 advantages of these machines are that they contain a large tank 



