6 FORESTRY IN MASSACHUSETTS 



illustration of the point just made. In the extreme western 

 part of the State are North Adams and Pittsfield; in the 

 Connecticut valley, Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield ; 

 in the central part, Fitchburg and Worcester ; and in the 

 eastern part, Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Greater Boston, 

 Brockton, Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River. There is 

 considerable manufacturing in all these places. Moreover, 

 manufacturing is going on in almost every small town. And 

 where there is manufacturing, there is always a demand for 

 wood in various forms. When we add to these demands the 

 demands of the railroads, telephone and telegraph companies 

 and of the farmer for his fences and buildings, it is readily 

 seen that a market for wood and lumber is not far to seek in 

 any considerable part of the State. No state in the Union 

 has better markets. 



(?) Transportation Facilities 



The third condition, that of easy transportation from 

 place to place, is also fulfilled in Massachusetts. If a glance 

 be taken at the map of the State, it will be seen that its sur- 

 face is traversed by a network of railroads and wagon roads. 

 It is true that many of these wagon roads are not what they 

 should be, and it is well that we have a Highway Commission 

 to make them better ; but when our roads are compared with 

 those in most other States, Massachusetts does not suffer by 

 the comparison. 



Transportation has an important bearing on forestry. 

 Forest products are as a rule bulky, and their transportation 

 is consequently a considerable item in the cost of marketing ; 

 and whether this or that measure can be adopted in the 

 woods often depends on the question whether this or that 

 bulky article can be carried to market with a margin of 

 profit, or not. If the transportation facilities are good, much 

 more intensive forestry can be practised than otherwise. 



(4) Protection from Fire 



At present the Commonwealth does not have an adequate 

 system of protection from forest fires. In saying this, it is 

 not the intention of the writer to criticise adversely the fire- 



