36 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, 



counties the average tax rate was from about two to four times the 

 average rate of the rural districts of the State. This state of affairs 

 indicates that the time has come when the same reasons that have led 

 to the placing of limitations on the power of municipalities to raise 

 money by tax or otherwise, call also for the placing of like limitations 

 upon the power of rural communities. 



ADEQUATE FOREST RESOURCES CAN BE ACQUIRED ONLY BY GIVING THE CUT- 

 OVER LANDS OF THE NORTH PROTECTION FROM FIRB. 



The foregoing brings us face to face with the fact that, if the future 

 is to be provided with forests adequate to supply suflQcieuit lumber and 

 wood products and to secure the benefits possible through forests to 

 agriculture and stream flow, they must be largely the result of efforts 

 by individuals to reforest the denuded, cut-over and wasfe lands of the 

 north. It is evident that this can not be hoped for unless conditions 

 are brought about which will make forestry comparatively safe. In the 

 last analysis, therefore, the problem of State forest fire protection is the 

 controlling one. 



GENBRAU FEATURES REQUIRED IN A FIRE LAW. 



Adequate fire protection for the extensive regions in which it is needed 

 requires efficient organized service, and that in turn requires legal ma- 

 chinery and authority under comjjetent management, and with sufficient 

 money. The machinery of the present fire law, with a few modifications, 

 is believed to be satisfactory and sufficient, if its administration is 

 in competent hands, and if sufficient money is appropriated for the pur- 

 pose of fire, protection. 



Expense of fire protection may be expected to decrease as the enforce- 

 ment of law spreads a better view of the value of young forest growth, 

 keeps down reckless and thoughtless starting of fires, eradicates the 

 laAvless element, enforces the exercise of more caution, improves condi- 

 tions that can be bettered, and as residents come to be owners of young 

 growing timber. Adequate protection involves at least supervision and 

 frequent reports during dangerous times. This, for so large a territory, 

 requires, to be .of any value at all, several hundred temporary employees. 

 Their duties will vary according to the needs and conditions of their 

 respective districts, which should be so laid out as to make the most 

 use possible of the cheaper methods of supervision, such as observation 

 from high places and watch towers, use of telephone, etc. Actual patrol 

 should be resorted to only when unavoidable, because it is much more 

 expensive. The whole must be worked out in detail, suiting the methods 

 and kind of supervision to each locality, with the purpose always in 

 view of keeping down expense. In seasons of danger, daily or other 

 frequent observation for fire, and report of results of the observation, 

 should be required. These reports should center in the deputy at the 

 head of the district. In time of actual fire, there should be authority 

 to call on citizens for help and money provided to pay for it. In times 

 deemed dangerous, the services and authority of the -sheriff's force of 

 the county and supervisor of the town should be made subject to the 

 warden's call. 



