32 CANADIAN FORE STKY ASSOCIATION. 



implements and supplies found necessary for fire fighting. They could be 

 called upon to patrol the woods during dry seasons and post fire notices, 

 and warn all passers. All expense of fighting fire was kept by such dep- 

 uties, and rendered to and paid by the Treasurers of the individual towns, 

 after being duly audited by the State Forester, within one month of their 

 occurrence, and subsequently the town was reimbursed one-half of said ex- 

 pense by the State. Vvhere no town organization existed, the land owners 

 in proportion to their holdings shared with the State the expense. The 

 Commission was granted an appropriation of $8,000 to carry out the pur- 

 poses of the act, and to forward the cause of forestry along other lines, 

 such as the State Forester giving lectures on forestry at the State College 

 and elsewhere, co-operating with private owners, investigating problems, 

 issuing pamphlets, and fire notices, encouraging publicity and advising the 

 Governor as to the issuing ol a proclamation against lighting fires or carry- 

 ing firearms in time of drought. 



In practice for the first year the law has proved of great assistance in 

 diminishing the number and extent of fires, but should be still further im- 

 proved by being made more elastic and comprehensive. Further and more 

 effective emphasis should be laid on the prevention, as well as the extin- 

 guishment of fires, and a considerable portion of any appropriation should 

 be devoted to this effective branch. With this in mind the Commission 

 made a small beginning, as far as their means would allow, towards in- 

 stalling the excellent system of mountain lookouts, first developed in our 

 neighboring State of Maine, by Forest Commissioner Ring. Four such 

 stations were established as models equipped with field glass, plane table, 

 maps and telephones on Mount Kearsage, Mount Washington, Mount 

 Rosebrook and Mount Croydon, awaiting further action by the Legislature 

 to authorize twenty more, necessary to properly cover our mountain region 

 and tie in with the the neighboring States. This system, where the contour 

 of the country allows it to be used, is one of the most effective methods 

 known of discovering fires in their inception, but is necessarily dependent 

 upon a clear atmosphere and becomes inactive in a smoky day when most 

 needed. For this reason such a system should be supplemented by a wide- 

 spread patrol, and the intelligent supervision of a Head Warden over a 

 specified district, to direct movements, receive reports and organize assis- 

 tance, patrols to be paid by the day while in active service, and Head War- 

 dens by monthly salary for the season. Four such departmental heads 

 would be necessary in our State. Special contour line maps should be con- 

 structed of the country to be patrolled, showing all roads and trails, which 

 should be in the hands of all workers. Implements and supplies necessary 

 should be stored at suitable pla-ces throughout the State ready for instant 

 use. Plans of co-operation should be made between the commissions of 

 neighboring States and between the State and private owners who wish still 

 further to extend the patrol at their own expense upon their own property. 

 Timber associations might well be formed for co-operation under this act, 

 as has been done in California and Idaho. 



Finally an adequate and generous appropriation is necessary for the 

 carrying out of such a system which must be complete to be effective, and a 

 considerable range of latitude should be given to the State Forester in the 



