PftOPEPTTV OFg DIVISION OF 



FORESTRY 



COLLEGE OF A AGRICULTURE 

 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 



THE 

 MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT STATION 



Throughout the State of Maine there are 

 more than half a hundred mountain lookout 

 stations. Recently many of these stations 

 have been equipped with that most modern 

 of appliances the stanch and symmetrical 

 steel tower with the snug cabin at its top, 

 such as is pictured on the opposite page. 



The mountain lookout man has come to be 

 one of the most important factors in the pro- 

 tection of forests from fire. Perched on the 

 mountain top, with unobstructed view on all 

 sides, he can detect the first sign of smoke 

 rising above the tree tops and report by tele- 

 phone the location of the fire to the chief 

 warden of his district. 



Mountain lookout stations are now estab- 

 lished in many states of the Union ; but the 

 lumbermen of Maine are credited with being 

 the originators of the mountain lookout with 

 telephone connection as a means of promptly 

 detecting forest fires. A number of such 

 stations were established in Maine by land- 

 owners and privately maintained, before 

 they were taken over by the Forest Com- 

 missioner's department. 



