44 SCRVETS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



PROTECTIVE FORCE. 



Tweutv forest guards. 



Duties. — To act as protective officers and patrols witliin the reserves. 

 Tliej- should reside iu or near tlie forest reserves, at points designated 

 bj- the chief forester in consultation with the forest rangers: should 

 see to it that the rules and regulations governing the reserves are 

 strictly observed : guard against injory from forest fires, and perform 

 such other duties as may be assigned to them. 



One hundred and sixty fire watchers. 



Duties. — On condition of the yearly payment of ?2o iu the Black 

 HUls and 850 in the other reserves specified below (p. 46). these men 

 should bind themselves, under penalty of forfeiture of payment at the 

 end of the year, to repair with all practicable speed to every fire which 

 may occur within the limit-s assigned to them ; to do their best to extin- 

 guish it, and, if necessary, to send immediate word to the, tbrest guard : 

 to report to the forest guard without delay all infractions of the forest 

 rules and regulations which may come to their notice : and to appear as 

 witnesses for the Government without further cost to the forest service 

 except for traveling exi^enses. 



A word of explanation may be required regarding the fire watchers 

 here proposed. This plan will create a body of men pledged to fight 

 all fires which may arise, but with the strongest incentive to prevent 

 them fi'om arising. The fewer tires the easier it will be for them to 

 earn their pay. It will secure a considerable number of residents in or 

 near each reserve who will become pecuniarily inten sted in its exist- 

 ence and safety. Depredations will be liable to discovery by a larger 

 number of men than could otherwise be employed, each of whom wiU 

 be dLrectly interested in the protection of the forest. Although the 

 amount of the pay iu each case is small, ready money is so scarce among 

 small ranchers in the West that the inducement to earn even this sum 

 will be great, especially since the work involved may amount to 'very 

 little in any year. Eveu so the object of the Government will be fully 

 attained, for it is fer better and cheaper to prevent the starting of tires 

 than to put them out after they have begun. The safety of the reserves 

 from fire and depredations must in the end depend largely upon the 

 good disposition of the i)eople who live in or near them, and the appoint- 

 ment of fire watchers such as are here described would, it is believed, 

 be a considerable step in that direction. 



Every forest officer, except the chief forester and the inspector, 

 should be required to provide his owu residence in or near a reserve at 

 a point suitable and convenient for the discharge of his duties, and to 

 keep at his own expense two horses constantly available for forest work. 

 His own field equipment, with the exception of a uniform hat to be 

 furnished by the Department, should also be provided at his own 

 expense. 'So charge for food and lodging should be allowed when 

 traveling. A subsistence allowance iu addition to actual and neces- 

 sary traveling expenses should be paid as follows: 



Per day. 



Chief forester j^S.OO 



Inspector 3.00 



Forest ranger , 2.00 



Forest guard 1.00 



A forest officer residing in a forest reserve should be allowed the use 

 of not more than 160 acres of agricultural land, if such land, suitably 

 placed, is available, together vrith free range for his own horses and 



