306 REPORT OS THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



patrol system is reinforced by mountain lookout stations and trails and telephone 

 lines are being built for the use of patrolmen. Lack of riecessary appropriation 

 prohibits the extention of this excellent patrol system throughout the State. 

 It is at present confined to State-owned lands. 



In 1913, the Central Pennsylvania Fire Protective Association was organized 

 to protect 300,000 acres of timberland owned by its members, and an assess- 

 ment of one-half cent per acre was levied for this purpose. The activities of 

 the Association are along the lines of education, patrol work, protective work 

 in the way of burning railroad rights-of-way, the erection of lookout stations, 

 opening up of roads and establishing cooperation with people having telephone 

 service. 



The Pocono Protective Association in the Pocono Mountains in northeastern 

 Pennsylvania has also performed considerable work for a number of years along 

 similar lines. 



To encourage cooperative protective work among timber owners, an act 

 was passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1913, authorizing the Department 

 of Forestry to expend from its forest fire, appropriation a sum equal to that 

 spent by each local association for patrol work. 



The total State appropriation for forest fire protection is at present 

 $25,000.00, and about $5,000.00 is spent by local associations. The total ex- 

 penditure at present represents a little more than one-third cent per acre for the 

 forested area of the State. 



No measures are taken to prevent fires from railroad locomotives except 

 those that are put into effect voluntarily by the railroad companies. Action of 

 this kind should be taken. 



VERMONT 



THE severe loss caused by the fires of 1903, brought about the first steps 

 toward the control of forest fires in Vermont. The following year a law 

 was enacted making the first selectman of each town ex-ofi&cio fire warden, 

 and giving him authority to take such measures and summon whatever assistance 

 needed to extinguish fires in his town. 



The first test of this new organization came during the dry season of 1908, 

 and the showing made was far from good, since losses in the State that year 

 are estimated at $50,000.00. 



In 1908 a State Forester was appointed, whose duty as State Fire Warden re- 

 quired enforcement of the laws of the State regarding forest fires. It was not, 

 however, until 1912 that there was much progress made in revising the fire laws. 

 At this time the board of selectmen of each town were authorized to appoint a 

 town fire warden subject to the approval of the State Forester. This made it 

 possible to continue in oiSce a warden who had shown energy and ability instead 

 of having a constantly changing force. 



Any fire warden may establish, with the permission of the State Forester, a 

 patrol in his town during dangerous times, the expense to be borne by the town. 

 Where conditions make it advisable, the State Forester may divide a town into 

 a number of districts and appoint a warden for each district. 



