FIFTH NATIONAI, CONSFRVATION CONGRESS 295 



In 1911, Maine secured an allotment of $10,000 from the Weeks law co 

 operative fund, and since that time has every year received a similar amount. 



The timberland of the organized towns of the State does not come under 

 the jurisdiction of the Forest Commissioner, consequently little progress toward 

 satisfactory fire protection has been made. To improve this condition, it has 

 been recommended that the protection of these towns be placed in the hands of 

 the Forest Commissioner, and that he be given the power to appoint the local 

 wardens. These suggestions have not so far been carried out. 



During dry and dangerous seasons the Forest Commissioner is authorized 

 by the law of 1911 to maintain a patrol along railroad rights-of-way wherever 

 necessarj- and to collect all expense so incurred from the railroads. Between 

 May 1st and November 10th the railroads are required to screen the windows 

 of all smoking cars. 



In the spring of 1912, the Kennebec Valley Protective Association was organ- 

 ized with twenty-seven members, representing, 1,189,391 acres owned by them in 

 the Kennebec watersheds. An assessment of one and one-half mills was collected 

 in 1912. The association is aiding in securing wise protective legislation for the 

 State, and in cooperation with the State Department aims to provide their terri- 

 tory with adequate means of protection. 



The fire losses since the establishment of the Maine Forestry District are 

 given below : 



Acres 

 burned over. Damage. 



1909 inc. towns 11,945 $32,965.00 



1909 uninc. 



1910 inc. 

 1910 uninc. " 267 935.00 



11,423 48,303.00 



99,654 289,052.00 



4,042 14,096.00 



16,198 57,152.00 



1911 inc. 



1911 uninc. 



1912 inc. 

 1912 uninc. 



MICHIGAN 



THE Northern Forest Protective Association, an organization of timber 

 owners having a membership representing 2J4 million acres, is one of 

 the greatest factors in forest fire prevention in the State. 

 Following the plan of the timber owners of the Northwest, this organization 

 has a paid secretary who manages the affairs of the Association, does propaganda 

 work, and is also endeavoring to promote forest management on private lands. 



Patrolmen are put in the field by the Association and from $15,000 to 

 $20,000 is expended annually for this purpose. This organization has done more 

 to prove that fires can be successfully handled in Michigan than any other agency. 

 It is said that forest fires have destroyed $20,000,000 worth of timber in 

 Michigan. In spite of this, the State is backward in doing its share towards 

 protection of timber. As is usual the association has to patrol a large acreage 

 on which no assessments are received. It has therefore gone on record as favor- 

 ing State control and financing of forest protection work. 



