No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 523 



Addresses by Mr. E. A. Ryder of the Boston & Maine Railroad, Mr. C. N. Wood- 

 ward of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, Mr. J. H. 

 Foster of the New Hampshire State College, Mr. Harris A. Reynolds, 

 Secretary of the Massachusetts .Forestry Association, Mr. A. F. Hawes, 

 State Forester of Vermont, and others. 



January 22, Morning Session, 9 a.m. 

 Mr. W. L. Larry of the Massachusetts Public Service Commission in charge. 

 Inspection of the different style spark arresters used by the Boston & Maine and 

 New York, New Haven & Hartford railroads, including the Mudge-Slater 

 and the Stearns spark arresters. 



Afternoon Session. 

 Mr. M. C. HuTCHiNS, Massachusetts State Fire Warden, in charge. 

 Inspection of observation tower and equipment, also modern forest-fire wagon, 

 at South Hanson. 



Among those present were Mr. Robert S. Conklin, Commissioner of 

 Forestry, Harrisburg, Pa., Mr. Jesse B. Mowry, Commissioner of Forestry, 

 Chepachet, R. I., Robert M. Ross, State Fire Warden, Burlington, Vt., 

 Allen Chamberlain and Harris A. Reynolds representing the Massachu- 

 setts Forestry Association, as well as many representatives of woodland 

 owners, who took part in the discussions. A very interesting and instruc- 

 tive meeting was enjoyed. 



Forest Warden Conferences. 



During the months of February and March this department held a 

 series of forest warden conferences throughout the State. These were 

 held at Pittsfield, Greenfield, Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Haverhill, 

 Middleborough and Boston. The object of the meetings was that em- 

 ployees of the department might get in closer touch with the town forest 

 wardens and selectmen, and discuss with them the different methods of 

 handhng forest fires, the organizing of fore'st fire-fighting crews, the appoint- 

 ing of deputies located in the outlying portions of the different to^vns, and 

 the importance of procuring suitable equipment for handling forest fires. 



These meetings were very instructive and were attended by nearly all 

 the forest wardens throughout the State, each one being free to discuss 

 matters pertaining to his locality. Short talks were given by members of 

 this department on the general outline of the system and work. Mr. E. 

 A. Ryder of the Boston & Maine Railroad and Mr. Chas. B. Rood of the 

 New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad were in attendance, and 

 exi^lained fully what these railroads are endeavoring to do in order to 

 lessen the expense caused by railroad fires. 



A law was enacted this year relative to the disposal of slash and brush 

 and is a forward step toward reducing our forest-fire hazard. While the 

 law is not as broad and as far-reaching as I would desire, at the same 

 time it will necessitate the removal of much dangerous slash accumulating 

 along highways and railroad rights of way, and will protect areas adjoin- 

 ing land where wood and lumbering operations are being carried on. ^ 



' See " Agricultural Legislation of 1914," p. 334. 



