14 AGKICULTUKAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE or TEXAS. 



determines that promiscuous fires are an unnecessary and avoidable evil. 

 Until that time it is useless to formulate detailed, protective measures. 



Each county where the fire problem exists should ultimately have a 

 fire warden and enough deputies to control fires started by irresponsible 

 persons and see that legitimate fires are kept within proper limits. 

 Such a county fire warden system should be under State supervision., 

 and the expenses of its maintenance should be paid by the State or the 

 counties, or shared by both. The majority of States now handle the 

 fire problem in this way. 



The Federal government recognizes the importance of fire protection 

 as an indispensable aid in controlling the flow of streams. . In 1911 

 Congress passed a law which authorizes the Forest Service of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture to co-operate with and aid those States which 

 appropriate money for fire prevention purposes on the watersheds of 

 navigable streams. Since the greater part of Texas contains streams 

 recognized as navigable, it is possible to secure the benefit of Federal 

 aid to the extent of $10,000 a year when State appropriations for the 

 same purpose and on the same areas amount to at least this sum. At 

 the present time Texas is co-operating with the government to the extent 

 of $2500. The government aids in this work by paying for the em- 

 ployment of patrolmen during the hazardous months of the year. An 

 agent of the State Forester is now devoting his entire time to fire pro- 

 tection, chiefly along educational lines and in distributing fire notices. 

 He will also supervise the Federal patrolmen to be employed. As the 

 people become acquainted with the nature of this work and approve 

 of it, both State and Federal efforts will unquestionably be extended. 



As already stated, however, the damages from grass and woodland 

 fires must be recognized and a sentiment aroused against burning be- 

 fore any degree of success can be assured. Once the general public uses 

 its influence to prevent fires, control by means of an organized system 

 will be comparatively easy. 



