ANNUAL REPORT 1912 5 



PATROLLING 



Owing to light, though very timely rains which fell at 

 short intervals until the middle of June it was not necessary 

 to put our patrolmen out until the latter part of June, at which 

 time a long hot period, accompanied by frequent high winds, 

 compelled us to throw a patrol force into the field. 



During the month of July our patrol unit averaged 23,760 

 acres and in August this unit was reduced to an average of 

 22,000 acres. 



In July, 1911, our patrol unit was 18,000 acres and in 

 August of the same year less than 13,000 acres. 



Conditions were generally very much more favorable this 

 year than last. From June 1st to 30th this season we had ten 

 showers and a total precipitation of 1.57 inches; from June 

 1st to July 31st 15 showers and a total precipitation of 1.86 

 inches; and from June 1st to August 31st 25 showers and 

 rains, with a total precipitation during the active fire season of 

 4.29 inches. 



Under these conditions it was not necessary to maintain 

 our usual close patrol, and, while taking no chances, we saved 

 some money by keeping down the patrol force. 



Our total expenditures for patrolling, including all over- 

 head expense properly chargeable thereto, was $5,570.38. 



WEATHER 



In my annual report of last year I recommended the in- 

 stallation of a maximum and minimum registering thermometer 

 and a rain gauge at headquarters and that weekly weather re- 

 ports be sent to all members. 



We tried the experiment this season at very little expense, 

 and, in my opinion, got very satisfactory results. From the 

 weather reports, which were mailed to each member from 

 headquarters every Sunday morning, it was possible to see at 

 a glance what the fire hazard had been each day during the 

 week ending the previous Saturday night. 



For my own part I was very much interested and surprised 

 when I had my reports tabulated and found that the average 

 minimum temperature for June, July and August at head- 



