Conservation Commission 115 



The average cost of plantations made with civilian labor was 

 $4.71, while the average cost with convict labor was $3.91. Be- 

 fore a correct conclusion can be drawn, it is also necessary to con- 

 sider the ease or difficulty of the several planting fields. The 

 conditions at Seveys and Aiden Lair were very similar, while the 

 cover at Chubb Hill and Mountain Pond were very much the 

 same, but planting was slightly more difficult at Chubb Hill on 

 account of the prevalence of large stones and boulders. There 

 were some factors which increased the cost of the Aiden Lair 

 plantation, that could be avoided in the future. These charges 

 are estimated at $1 per thousand. If the convicts assigned to 

 this work are men who are familiar with the use of a grub hoe 

 and in charge of a guard who has had experience in planting and 

 is of the type that is able to get work out of the men, the cost 

 of approximately $3 per thousand at Chubb Hill ought to be 

 a fair basis and would mean a saving of about $1 a thousand in 

 reforesting. 



PERSONNEL 



During the year there have been many changes in our office 

 force. Of nine men who were employed at the beginning of the 

 year, but five remain. I have already referred to the great loss 

 sustained through the death of David C. Wood, our chief land 

 surveyor. 



Mr. Lester S. Emmons, who had been connected with this 

 Commission and its predecessors for a period of nineteen years, 

 resigned on account of personal reasons. He, from 1895 to 1900, 

 was employed as a game protector. In the latter year the posi- 

 tion of chief fire warden was created and he, on account of his 

 efficient record as protector, was appointed to this office. Dur- 

 ing a period of nine years until the office was abolished, he ren- 

 dred the State very efficient service. He organized the fire force 

 of wardens in the approximately one hundred towns and audited 

 all fire bills wherein the State paid a rebate. This was a most 

 trying and exacting duty. He performed the service with dis- 

 cretion and saved the State many thousands of dollars. After 

 the present protective fire force was inaugurated, he became au- 

 ditor of fire accounts. 



