Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-14
STATE HOUSE,
Progress Of Work Of Pro-
tecting the Forests.
Railroad Commissioners Look
Over Washington County.
4 Slas House Soldier Tells Of an Expert.
ence In Battle.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Coun.
Gil, Friday, June 16, at 4 p. M.

Hon. f. E. Ring, land agent and for
est commissioner, who has the preser-
walton of the Maine forests from fire
very much at heart. and has been busy,
this spring. perfecting system by
which the liability of damage by fire tn
timber lands will be greatly lessened,
through the establishment Of q fire pa
troll. to be maintained by a corps of fire
wardens. was at his desk in the de-
partment. yesterday. Mr.. Ring has re-
Gently returned from a trip to the
northern part of the State, and spoke
most Interestingly of what has been
and is being done in the way Of pre-
venting the devastation of our forests
by fire. Among other things that he
| said was that the indications are that
| the forest fire problem in Maine in
| which such vast numbering interests
are involved, will before long be re-
| duced to a minimum.
| The advices received from the forestry
| department show that the utmost pre-
| caution is being observed all through
the numbering regions, and this, sup
plemented by a trained and well-in-
structed corps of fine wardens, located
at all vulnerable points in the great
forest tracts. is keeping the dread ele-
ment well at bay.
| 1t is pleasing to note that the wild
land owners are most heartily cooper
ating with the State forestry depart
mcnt in the control of the forest fires,
and a rev plan has just been inaugur-
sted which promises to still further in
crease the efficiency of the protection. :
/ tan
a telephone in the dense forests of
Maine. but while balloons are being
| used in the Russian. japanese war and
Marconi is still t:nkering with the
| wireless message, the lumbermen of
Maine are thinking up a few things ir
the scientific world.
| w. ]. I.anigan of Waterville and w.
| NJ. Shaw of Bath, two men with
bright ideas and well versed in forestry,
have just completed a telephone line
from Greenville to a station on the
summit of Squaw Mountain, near
Moosehead Lake. This signal station
will be operated during every dry peri
3D. This telephone line is nearly six
miles long and has been carefully con-
| structed.
The station has been built and
| equipped with powerful field glasses
and Il rangefinder. A man stationed at
this point can locate a fire for forty
miles i'm any direction, and with the aid
of the telephone, can communicate with
the wardens at Greenville, and tell therr
the exact location of the fire, just as
the signal corps operates in modern
| warfare.
The expense Of constructing this new
system is borne by the wild land own
| ers. but the State forestry department
/ will assume the responsibility of keep
ing it going, as it feels that with the
| comparatively small outlay required
| the benefits will be many fold. Under
the present law the Forest Commits
| sioner has no authority to construct a
| system of this character, but can fur
nish patrol during dry period to take
| charge of the stations.
This is the first time that the tele-
| phone, useful i'm so many other ways.
has ever been brought into play in this
| State i'm the preservation Of the forests,
and much credit is due Messrs. LAM
gan and Shaw for their enterprise In
this matter. In all probability other
telephones will be constructed after
Iawhile, and the system of cOmmunica-
ton in the woods will be complete.
| 1t is pleasing to observe this growing
interest in the greatest source or
| wealth in the State, and it is still fur
Their gratifying to chronicle the many
plans that are constantly being made In
the interest of forestry and arboreal
| culture.
The installation of the telephone
marks the beginning of a still more
scientific system of fire protection that
means much for the State of Maine. 1t
is the beginning of a cooperative sys-
TEN of protection between the wild
land owners and the State forestry de-
partment that cannot fail to have bene-
fetal results.
Chairman Carleton, of the Commits
sioners of inland fisheries and game,
has received a letter from Game ward