292 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



COLORADO 



HAVING a large percentage of its timbered area in National Forests, which 

 are each year better protected against fire loss, the problem of securing 

 State or private assistance in the work does not take on the same im- 

 portance which must be given this matter in some other States of large private 

 ownership. 



Forest fires have, however, caused enormous losses in Colorado, and the sub- 

 ject of forestry and forest protection is an important issue in the State. 



A State Conservation Commission was appointed by the Governor in 1908, 

 and largely through the efforts of this commission Colorado's present forest law 

 was enacted, which takes the place of the earlier enactment of 1885 and 1897. 



Aside from the excellent work being done by the Forest Service, the State's 

 limited activities along protection lines constitute practically all that is being done 

 to prevent loss of timber through fire. 



PRESENT EFFORT IN THE STATE. 



The area within the exterior boundaries of the National Forests is 14,761,900 

 acres. This part of the State receives the best possible protection which limited 

 funds will allow of. 



During the past year the State Forester has sought to add the strength of 

 his office to preventing forest fire damage. To this end assistants have been 

 appointed and the active cooperation of county boards of commissioners solicited. 

 In addition to this work a number of special forest fire wardens have been 

 appointed. 



To cement the work of the various agencies a definite agreement was entered 

 into during 1912 between the Forest Service and the Colorado State Board of 

 Forestry, with a view to thorough cooperation in forest protection. 



Although hampered with a small appropriation, Colorado is making progress 

 in forest protection. Due to the fact that there are no large ownerships of 

 timber land in the State, as well as to the fact that watershed protection is of 

 great importance, it would appear that little financial aid can be asked from, 

 owners of property. The State must take upon itself such protection as is 

 needed outside National Forest areas. Mining interests also require protection 

 for their supplies of timber and buildings, and these two great interests— mining, 

 and water for irrigation and domestic use— fully warrant State activity in forest 

 protection. 



CONNECTICUT 



CONNECTICUT has 1,500,000 acres of timberland, largely in the form 

 of farmer's woodlots. Most of the timber is, at present, of cordwood 

 size and the quantity is conservatively estimated to be about 30,000,000 

 cords, with an approximate value on the stump of $20,000,000. 



Under the provisions of the law passed in 1905, a fire protective system was 

 established and the State Forester became ex-officio State Forest Fire Warden. 

 The selectmen of towns were also authorized to appoint town fire wardens with 



