CHAPTER XIX. 127 



Arrange the camps of the rangers at the points contiguous to the 

 greatest number of districts. In this way, with the present force, three 

 to four men would have their camp together. At this central camp 

 would be the tools for fire fighting and trail making. Supplies could 

 be delivered at these camps and the head officer visit them for reports 

 and inspection. It would cheapen the cost of telephone or signal sys- 

 tem. The rangers now have to come out of the mountains for supplies 

 and once a month to make a report. By the above method the ranger 

 would not have to leave his district. He would also have company 

 and aid. The rangers of districts so arranged should be instructed to 

 give each other aid. 



The fire signal should be an imperative call for assistance with 

 tools. The fire signal in this section is plain and unmistakable. It is 

 a cloud by day and a column of fire By night. In this way at least four 

 competent men would be after a fire at the first sign of smoke. In most 

 cases enough of them would reach the fire in the first stage to control 

 it. The economies suggested would enable the dangerous districts to have 

 a double patrol. Eight trained men would then be promptly available for 

 fire work. Very few fires would get beyond the first stage by this sys- 

 tem and all would be dealt with by a good force at the third or resting 

 stage. All forest fires of wide range go through this third period sev- 

 eral times in their course. The recommendations of the Forest Society, 

 now being partly carried out, were: 



1st: That the rangers should be appointed Deputy U. S. Marshals. 

 This the U. S. Marshal In this district refused to do. A marshal could 

 be appointed who would do this. In one district the rangers have been 

 appointed Deputy Sheriffs by the county. In all the Southern reserves 

 most of the rangers have been appointed deputy game and fish ward- 

 ens, at the suggestion of our society to the Fish and Game Commission. 

 These stars enable the Rangers to arrest offenders against State laws. 

 The stars also add greatly to their influence and power. 



2nd: A free permit system was suggested. Any one in the mount- 

 ains without a permit would be taken out. These permits were to con- 

 tain, with a duplicate register on a stub in the permit book, the name 

 and address of the holder, the part of the Reserve to be visited and the 

 person's object. At the bottom was to be printed the rule against large 

 fires and obliging" every fire set to be extinguished by water and the 

 penalties for setting forest fires. Every permit holder would surely be 

 in a more responsible frame of mind with the permit than without it, 

 and would use more care. Ignorance could not be pleaded as to the fire 



