302 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Danger from Slash. 



It is thought best to call attention again to the great forest fire 

 losses occurring yearly from the slash following logging opera- 

 tions. In a State like Massachusetts, where during the summer 

 season our population is spread tliroughout the country, the 

 chances for forest fires are very great. When fires get established 

 in these slash areas they present a very perplexing problem and 

 often get under such momentum that great areas are destroyed 

 before the fire is brought under control. 



The State Forester believes that if the local forest wardens 

 were given authority to consult with the lumbermen before the 

 operation was begun, with a view of leaving some simple fire lines 

 for future protection of adjoining properties, much good could 

 be accomplished. This whole question is one of education. Up 

 to the present little attention has been given the subject, and it 

 is not uncommon to see the brush piled upon the line fence of 

 the abutter, or even into the highway along country back roads. 

 A wide-awake forest warden with a little authority could quickly 

 get the co-operation of his people, and this would greatly lessen 

 the present dangers. The ideal method of disposing of slash is 

 to pile and burn it at once, but this is thought too expensive by 

 many. The next thing is to spread the brush out thinly, so that 

 it will quickly decay, and cut it up with belts or fire lines free of 

 slash, so that should any portion catch fire it could be held within 

 small areas. 



Report of the State Fire Warden. 



Mr. F. W. Rane, State Forester. 



See: — In compliance with your request I beg to submit the following 

 report of the work accomplished by this branch of the department during 

 the present year : — • 



The State has been divided into four forest fire districts, each district 

 being in charge of an experienced and competent district forest warden, 

 the district arrangement being as follows: District No. 1, Essex, Middle- 

 sex and Norfolk counties ; District No. 2, Barnstable, Bristol and Plymouth 

 counties; District No. 3, Worcester County and west to the Connecticut 

 River; District No. 4, Berlcshire County and east to the Connecticut River. 



The principal work of the district forest wardens has been constructing 

 telephone lines, erecting steel observation towers, map making, inspecting 

 all forest fire-fighting equipment, visiting selectmen and forest wardens, 



