298 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



MONTANA 



WESTERN MONTANA has a forested area of some 18,500,000 acres, 

 of which about 11,500,000 acres are within the exterior boundaries of 

 National Forests, leaving 7,000,000 acres outside of these forests to 

 be protected. 



There have been numerous attempts to secure some systematic protection 

 effort on the part of private owners and the State, none of which have been en- 

 tirely successful. The Northern Montana Forestry Association has, however, 

 been formed and represents some 300,000 acres, while private owners co-operating 

 directly with the Forest Ser-^ice represent about 1,800,000 acres. On the balance 

 of the area no special protective measures are taken. 



During the past season some 335 patrolmen were engaged in protection work. 

 Of this number the Forest Service employed 285 men, 20 were employed by the 

 State and through the Weeks' Law fund, the balance working in the interest of 

 private owners. 



Although compared with other Northwestern States (except California) 

 the showing in Montana is poor, practically all that has been dene i;; the result 

 of the effort of the past two years. 



The State suffers from lack of good forest law3, although itself a irge land 

 owner. The legislature should be even more vigorously urged to enact suitable 

 legislation, and timber owners who now seldom expend to exceed y^c per acre 

 for protection should make a more determined effort to get together. Wherever 

 private and Government interest can work together to the advantage of both, such 

 procedure will furnish the cheapest and best patrol. This is recognized at present 

 and private owners are cooperating with the Forest Service under regular 

 agreement. 



NEW HAMPSHIEE 



THERE is approximately 4,000,000 acres of timber land in New Hampshire 

 of which about one-half is included in woodlots. The majority of these 

 smaller tracts are in the southern part of the State. 



The conditions found in the northern part of the State are in sharp contrast 

 to those found further south. The country is sparsely settled and the timberland 

 is in large tracts owned by a few companies or individuals who are keenly 

 alive to the value of giving their property the best protection possible. 



In 1903 an appropriation was made for an examination and report on the 

 forest conditions of the State, in co-operation with the United States Forest 

 Service. The report which was submitted in 1905, contained a strong recom- 

 mendation that a forestry department be created and a fire protective organiza- 

 tion be established. In 1908, a forestry department was organized and the 

 State Forester was made State Forest Fire Warden. 



In 1910, a few of the timberland owners of the northern part of the State 

 subscribed $4,000.00 to be used for the erection of mountain lookout stations. 

 With this sum the State Forester, as their agent, built and maintained ten look- 

 out stations. 



