Xiv FOREWORD 
~ 
mountain originated among our Maine lumbermen in the days 
before the State concerned itself particularly with fire protection. 
After three years of close observation of its workings I am sat- 
isfied that, with the one exception of which I will treat later, our 
Maine Forestry District Law can scarcely be improved. The incor- 
poration by law of all the real wild lands of the State into an admin- 
istrative district, which pays its own way in matters of fire pro- 
tection by a special tax on the timberlands within its bounds, is a 
measure that has worked smoothly and effectively. By provision 
of this law the Forestry District is divided up into sub-districts 
each in charge of a Chief Warden appointed by the Forest Com- 
missioner. As their assistants the Chief Wardens have deputy 
wardens, lookout men and, when necessary, patrolmen. 
As a means of promoting still greater efficiency the Department 
has recently inaugurated a plan of calling the Chief Wardens to- 
gether each year at Augusta for a general conference lasting two 
days. At the conferences these “Guardians of the Maine Forests” 
have been furnished with simple entertainment, have listened to 
addresses by prominent citizens and officials and have received 
instruction by experts regarding the installation and up-keep of 
telephones and also on other matters relating to their work. The 
men themselves assure me that they have been greatly benefited 
BURNED LAND ON CHASE STREAM TOWNSHIP. 
This fire was the largest in Maine during the summer of 1919, and burned 
over one hundred and twenty-five acres. Photo by Maine Forestry Dept. 
