THE FORESTER AND HIS WORK 227 



pened that these cores were just the right length 

 and thickness of the regulation mine roller for 

 carrying cable in the coal mines. It was only- 

 necessary to bore a hole in the center of them 

 for the fitting of a metal rod. Now this manu- 

 facturer receives almost as much for his mine 

 rollers as for the veneer itself. Thus, while the 

 Bureau has been in operation less than a dec- 

 ade, it has proved its worth over and over, and 

 has been the means of saving countless trees 

 throughout the country. 



The first aim of the Forest Service is to pro- 

 tect the resources of the National Forests so 

 that they will always give service, and at the 

 same time to see that the greatest number of 

 people have an equal chance to reap their bene- 

 fits. Such wise administration involves a mul- 

 titude of cares and duties : 



Fire Patrol. In all the National Forests, 

 throughout the summer months, men patrol the 

 woods, and are stationed here and there on high 

 open spots, to keep a constant and careful out- 

 look for the rise of smoke and the beginnings of 

 fire in every direction. For it is a Service 

 maxim that : "The best time to fight a fire is be- 

 fore it has time to spread." A delay of even a 

 few minutes may permit a fire that at first could 

 easily have been put out to gather headway and 



