22 



could be relied upon to assist in the protection of the tract. The terms 

 of the lease should be so arranged that each tenant would be a local 

 fire warden, keeping close watch over the area near his farm. The 

 tenants, as a body, would form a reserve force of fire fighters whom 

 the rangers could call upon in time of emergency. This system is 

 in successful operation on a large estate in Xorth Carolina. 



Artificial fire lines in the Southern Appalachians are impracticable. 

 The roughness of the country, the rapid growth of underbrush, and 

 the heavy fall of leaves each jeRY put an almost prohibitive cost upon 

 building lines and keeping them open. Existing roads and trails 

 serve as fire lines, and every deep, moist cove forms an effectiA^e bar- 

 rier to the flames. 



Protection should include a system of patrol during the danger 

 season over definite ranges. The time of danger is from March 15 

 to June 15 and from October 15 to December 15, or five months in each 

 year. Rangers should be selected from trustworthy men who are well 

 acquainted with the country. Such men could probably be secured 

 for from $50 to $60 a month, or from $250 to $300 for the entire 

 season. By a system of trails along the ridges it is possible to patrol 

 a large area with comparatively little traveling. Each ranger should 

 patrol 12,000 acres, which would make the cost of protection about 2J 

 cents per acre. 



Every ranger should be made a deputy sheriff of the count}", with 

 power to arrest without warrant and with full authority to enforce 

 the State fire laws. They should also have authorit}" to emplo}" neces- 

 sary^ aid in fire fighting. 



Cut-over lands should be protected for not less than twenty-five or 

 thirty years, since the young growth requires that length of time to 

 reach a point where it can resist ground fires. 



Approved : 



James Wilsox, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, D. C., Septernher 27^ 1907. 



ICir. lis.] 



O 



