Consekvation Commission. 87 



struments. The weather conditions on the mountain tops are; 

 however, decidedly severe, even during the summer months, there- 

 fore, the life of a tent, which is in constant use in an exposed 

 situation, is usually not more than two years. The experience 

 gained in this connection demonstrated the need of a more com- 

 fortable and permanent form of shelter. Cabins- have been con- 

 structed of logs or lumber as fast as funds could be spared for 

 this work. At the present time thirty-two of the forty-nine moun- 

 tain stations are equipped with cabins; twenty-one of them are 

 built of logs and eleven of lumber or boards ; twenty of these 

 buildings have been erected during the past season. In addition 

 three camps have been erected for use of watchmen on plantations. 



Roads and Trails. 



In the more undeveloped portions of the Forest Preserve there 

 are large blocks of timber land not accessible by existing highways. 

 If fires should occur in certain of these places, it would be exceed- 

 ingly difficult to get men and provisions there promptly. It is 

 therefore advisable to clear out trails in order to render these areas 

 more accessible for expedition in patrolling or securing men and 

 supplies. Therefore, about one hundred and seventy miles of 

 trails have been constructed and maintained. 



The trails leading to the mountain observation stations have 

 been cleaned out and greatly improved. This work has been done 

 by the observers during wet weather or when their continued 

 presence was not required at the stations, thus making the stations 

 an attraction to tourists, and also relieving the men of the 

 monotony of observation duties. 



CO-OPEEATION UNDEB THE WEEKS LAW. 



In accordance with the provisions of the Weeks Law, the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture entered into a co-operative agreement 

 with this Department, and we received approximately four thou- 

 sand dollars which was expended in salaries of observers on 

 mountain stations within the limits of the Hudson and Delaware 

 watersheds. This money was of great assistance and served to eke 

 out the inadequate appropriations for fire protective work. 



An order was issued by the Postmaster-General directing all 



