FOREWORD xiii 
has. given this 
branch of the 
service prece- 
dence over ev- 
erything else. 
The greater 
part of our 
funds have been 
expended for 
the construction 
and mainte- 
nance of lookout 
towers, tele- 
phone lines and 
shelters for men 
and equipment; 
for the purchase 
of tools and sup- 
plies and for the 
compensation of 
chief wardens, 
lookout watch- 
men, patrolmen 
and inspectors. 
Also in certain 
years when ex- 
treme dry con- 
ditions prevail, 
large sums are 
spent for sup- 
pressing fires, 
as at such times 
quite an amount 
of assistance 
LOOKOUT TOWER ON BLACK CAT MOUNTAIN. 
This is one of the towers erected in the summer 
of 1919. Photo by Maine Forestry Dept. 
from outside the department has to be secured for the actual fight- 
ing of fire. 
Considering the character of our woodlands, the topography 
of our State and the conditions which we have to meet, I believe 
we may safely say that our present system of fire protection is 
based on sound principles. . The efficiency of our lookout stations in 
locating fires has been thoroughly demonstrated. The idea of de- 
tecting forest fires from a lookout situated on the summit of a 
