Foresters or other officials 
were appointed as 
collaborators so that they 
could hire the Federal 
employees and certify 
vouchers for payment. 
The objective of the use of 
the Federal funds was to 
stimulate the States into 
building permanent 
fire-control organizations. 
Initially, State allotments 
were limited to $10,000, but 
as more States entered the 
program, the amount was 
reduced to $8,000. A small 
emergency fund was held 
for use by any cooperating 
State with a justified reason 
(Peirce and Stahl 1964, 
Zimmerman 1976). 
The task of the Forest Service 
inspectors was that of both 
technical reviewer of 
programs and diplomat to 
persuade State 
administrators to make 
needed changes in their 
policies, programs, and 
methods. Inspectors were 
“spread thin" to cover the 
many States and the large 
areas brought under fire 
protection. They not only 
visited the administrative 
offices, they spent time with 
the lookouts and made 
rounds with patrolmen. 
Always, the task of educating 
the public was of high priority 
(Peirce and Stahl 1964, 
Zimmerman 1976). 
The funds made available to 
States under the Weeks law 
provided a means to begin 
putting fire-control 
organizations into place. 
States were encouraged to 
obtain cooperation and 
financial support from 
counties and private owners, 
but to qualify as matching 
funds for Federal purposes, 
there had to be assurance of 
continued support. 
Contributions or agreements 
without a long-term 
commitment were not 
accepted in determining 
State matching funds. Where 
private owners were willing 
to cooperate, it was 
suggested that a per-acre 
assessment be made by the 
county or State to assure 
continuity. Such assessments 
were to be transferred directly 
to the State Forester’s 
account for fire protection 
(Peirce and Stahl 1964). 
The initial Weeks law 
appropriation was $200,000, 
to be available until 
expended, but in 1912 
Congress set a limit of June 
30, 1915. The original funds 
lasted only 3 years; an 
additional $75,000 was made 
available in 1914. The 
following 6 years (1915—20), 
$100,000 was appropriated 
annually, and for 1921, 
$125,000. 
In 1920, a survey to determine 
the cost to protect the 
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