ANNUAL REPORT 1912 9 



The association's total expense for fires, including all over- 

 head expense, was $360.05. It should be borne in mind, how- 

 ever, that this figure does not include the wages of men reg- 

 ularly engaged in patrolling for putting out such small fires 

 as they could handle without assistance. 



CONCLUSION 



In conclusion let me say that in my opinion we should 

 extend our telephone lines next season and continue to build 

 new trails where experience has shown us they are most needed. 



Let us keep a close watch on conditions and continue to 

 avail ourselves of every opportunity to improve our methods, 

 to the end that we may attain the maximum perfection of or- 

 ganization and greatest efficiency in our efforts to save the 

 forests of northern Idaho from the ravages of forest fires. 



Today Idaho unquestionably occupies leading place in the 

 organized effort to prevent and control forest fires throughout 

 the world, and, while we who are closely identified with this 

 great work are always ready and glad to lend any assistance to 

 those who are following the trail we have blazed, we must see 

 to it that the many who are now following in .our footsteps do 

 not pass us and attain the coveted goal of ultimate perfection 

 of organization and efficiency before we have reached it. 



Respectfully, 



A. W. LAIRD, President. 



