sons interested, and would be local men, thoroughly familiar 

 with their district and widely acquainted in the County. Their 

 appointment would be made on the basis of efficiency alone, and 

 experience has proved that capable and reliable men can be 

 secured for this work. It is the duty of such men to travel 

 throughout their district during the dry seasons, being con- 

 stantly on the lookout for fires, fighting any that they discover, 

 posting warning notices, explaining the laws to everybody, and 

 cautioning those who may be careless. 



Cooperation with Owners of Timber Land. 



In sections where large bodies of timber land are owned by 

 individuals or corporations the assistance of the State and gov- 

 ernment is extended to such owners in the same way as to the 

 County Supervisors. Another plan, which is already in force 

 in southwest Virginia, is as follows : The State Forester ap- 

 points patrolmen, who are paid entirely by the federal gov- 

 ernment, and given districts including the holdings of the 

 land owners or an association of land owners who cooperate 

 by preparing for each fire season by constructing in advance 

 thereof such permanent improvements as mav be most needed 

 to make the work more effective, such as fire lines, trails, lookout 

 stations, etc. The sum to be spent on such work must equal at 

 least two months' salaries for the patrolmen for each fire season. 

 It is believed that the construction of such improvements is well 

 worth the cost, and in fact they are under most circumstances, 

 in the mountains, absolutely necessary in order to secure a really 

 effective system which will not fall down in the occasional very 

 dry season. Ordinarily a patrolman can cover approximately 

 25,000 or 30,000 acres of mountain land, depending upon the 

 character of the country and the roads, trails, etc. Owners of 

 mountain land are strongly advised to form fire protective as- 

 sociations, which have many obvious advantages over each land 

 owner working alone. Many such associations have been in 

 operation in Northern and Western states for years, and many 

 others have recently been organized in the adjoining states of 

 West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina, The assessments 

 of these associations for fire protection work have averaged from 

 one half a cent to two cents per acre per year. This amount is 

 low in proportion to the value received, but it is believed that it 

 can be still further reduced when the most important trails, look- 

 out stations, etc., have been constructed, and when the people liv- 

 ing in the woods and hunting there, etc., have been taught by the 

 patrolmen to be careful with fire. 



For further information address the State Forester at Char- 

 lottesville, Virginia. 



