NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 71 



Telephone lines are constructed to facilitate the summoning of assistance. In 

 the Maine spruce woods look-out stations have been established on high hills 

 where they command a view over a township or more, and during thedryseason 

 men are kept constantly on the watch in each tower. All are connected by tele- 

 phone and each is equipped with a range finder so that when fire is discovered, 

 by communicating with one another they are able to locate it definitely and 

 direct as well as summon help. The equipment is supplied by the lumbermen 

 and the wages of the watchmen are paid by the State. During the first year 

 of their service they proved so satisfactory that they are being increased this 

 year. 



The same force on the reserve which constitutes fire protection is also 

 responsible for safety from trespass. 



The vital point of the whole scheme and the one about which the 

 lumbermen were the most sceptical was the successful and business-like dis- 

 posal of the timber by the Government. Here was where irrational methods 

 and failure were prophesied. But, possibly spurred on by these prophesies, 

 an organization was developed which is simple, satisfactory for the con- 

 sumers, and efficient for the nation. 



The supervisor acts as business manager of the reserve and has at pres- 

 ent as his adviser a technical assistant, who is a trained forester, and also is 

 responsible for the study of reserve conditions and the preparing of working 

 plans. 



All timber or forest reserves which can be cut safely and for which there 

 is actual need are for sale, and always open to applications for purchase. All 

 dead timber is for sale and sometimes given away. Green timber is for sale 

 except where its removal reduces the timber supply below a point of safety, or 

 seriously affects streams. 



The rules governing the purchase of timber are simple and effective. 

 They are framed so as to"give the resident consumer, struggling mill-owner, 

 and wealthy would-be monopolist, all equal chances, except that small appli- 

 cations are considered first. Applications are made to the local officer in 

 > charge, who has power to execute on the ground sales up to a stumpage value 

 of $20.00. If the sale is larger the application is immediately forwarded to 

 the head office which advertises the sale. All bids are made by sealed tender 

 direct to the forest service, and the price absolutely fixed by the highest bid. 

 If the original applicant should wish to begin cutting immediately, he may 



