Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-09

When Fire Es Uncovered warden or
 District Is Notified, and He Sends
 Fire Fighters There-Unfque sys-
 tenn of Protection Employed In
 Maine Has Proved Its Value.
 Squaw Mountain observatory. in Maine, has become a necessity at a very small cost, says Portland CMe.) dispatch to the New York Herald. From it watchmen catch the first flick CT of forest fire, and, telephoning the news to the chief fire warden, snuff the flicker before it has destroy cd much more than an acre of timber.
 There are three observatories in the lumber district, which are the realiza- ton of the dreams of William J. Lan- nigan, lumber prospector of Water ville The observatories are located on Squaw, BigeIow and Attean mountains. The former mountain is at the foot of Moosehead lake and rises nearly 4,000 feet above the sea level Attean noun tain Is in Attean township of the Moose river valley, about fifteen miles west of Jackman and overlooking the divide between Moose and Dear rivers. Bigelow mountain is in the Dead river valley.
 Mir. Lannigan knows the northwest ern section of Maine as well as any man living. He knows how forest fires start and how they progress until they cover townships and lay waste to millions of good money. He last year began correspondence with timber land owners over the proposition to build observatories on the mountains. His plan was to build camps and structures on the mountain tops. where men could remain with comfort during the dry season. From these stations, by telephone, fire wardens would be able to learn of the location of fires many hours before the information could be obtained in the old way of waiting until the sun was darkened by clouds of smoke.
 Mir. Lannigan received little encour- agement at first. but after the state had decided to appoint nre wardens Mir. Lannigan went after the timber land owners again with better success. In May of this year the three stations were established, and the last of June saw a man at each station The ob- server is supplied with instruments. charts and range finders.
 As the artillery officer maps out eff fective zones, in circles and squares, so does the fire warden map out the section he is to protect As the artillery officer drops a shell here and there by the use of his range finder, so does the observer square the section and locate a fire.
 The observer on Squaw mountain has a range to the north of more than sixty miles, while to the east and west it is forty miles. Recently he discover ed a fire thirty-five miles away and re- ported to the chief warden. Something after this style was the message he tel ephoned:
 Fire on 15. starting at Tobey's camp; wind north of west; smoke not bigger than bushel basket"
 The chief warden opened his charts, found "16' and Tobey's camp. picked out the shortest route to the scene, sent fire fighters to the front, and when night fell they had the fire ditched and harmless. The chief warden says the observer had located the starting point within thirty rods. At that distance west of Tobey's camp were found the ruins of a campfire. and the forest blaze was traced as starting from that point.
 Sullivan Newton of Jackman is chief fire warden for the Moose river valley. E. P. viles of Showhegan is the chief fire warden of the Dead river valley, and his man on top of Mount Bigelow has discovered several fires during the : summer which under the old plan would have been destructive.
 The observer at Squaw mountain saved money recently for William T.. Haines of watervllle. who owns large tracts of timber lands along the Ken nebec waters. The observer happened to turn his back on bis protectorate one day. Down on Cold Stream town ship 6 spurt of color appeared He went to the Somerset county charts. which are here because of the prozimi- ty of the county to the station Gold Stream. by thunder" exclaim- ed the observer. con Bill Haines' land, too. i've miles below the dam, on north side of stream. within a stone's throw of the Wilson hill tote road; close to water; wind hard west. Gin rsrl Got to save BIlrs timber or he may not have enough to land the gov enorshlp In 1908"
 A telephone can was sent to Green vile and flashed down the lumber line. In three hours a crowd of hardy fire fighters were surrounding the blaze. Said HaInes afterward:
 ~This nlehtmare of Bin Lannigan's has proved . godsend to timber land ownsu. That Ere on ny property on Cold Stream the other day under the old plan would have cost me S2o.Ooo in toss of timber. squaw mountain oo- ssrFatory made it possible for me to get out of It with the loss Of abo1t three acres
 squaw mountain has thiruSix alarms to Der credit In no instance did the bIare get beyoud the coutro Of the wardezs men. and in evsry case the fire axhterz got on fhs scene the same day the alarm went in-
 Attpan noaufatn observer has thir- =. .A.... n... ......nla na.A A.- .--.rn