Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-12
Extent and Loss in Maine,
During This Year.
Interesting Facts and Figures
Prepared by Commissioner.
1918 Acres Burned Over in ArOOstook,
With Damage Of S4I,3S0.


prepared a tabulated statement snow
ing the extent Of the forest fires in the
northern part Of Maine during the
present season.
While there mas been a fair amount
of rainfall in the southern counties.
Aroostook county and northern
Perobscot and Piscataquis have been
The d,.iest known for years, particular
" AroostoOk, which not within the
memory of man. has experienced such
drouth in the latter part of summer
season.
AS will be seen by the appended
table. forest fires occurred in Aroos-
took county, aggrcgating 1913 acres.
at an estimated loss CT Sal ,SS1. III ad-
dition to these, some 200 smaller fires
were extinguished by the deputy fire
wardens and their assistants before
any appreciate damage was done The
following Interesting table Is given:
AROOSTOOK COUNTY.
No Fires. Acres Burned. Damage.
g. 1878 $il. 81 %
Causes.
! hhh"Mn .........'..'.........'. -
Clearing Land ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
River Drivers Observation-Disclosures. "
Berry Pickers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. |
PENOBSCOT COUNTY.
No Fires. Acres Burned. Dam "a &c.
1,03S SIS
Causes.
amp FIicS ........'-........'''' '''''''''''
itlVer Drivers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. l
PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
no. Fires Acres Burned. Damage.
IL .66 S6,2l2.J0
Causes.
Camp Fires .............'...-..'..... f!
Berry PickCrS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. /
Sparks Locomotive Observation-Disclosures.
SOMERSET COUNTY.
No. Fires. Acres Burned Damage:
Causes.
Clearing Land Observation-Disclosures. ]
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
NJ Fires Acres Burned ai Damage:
Causes.
Clearing Land ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. !
3IP IRE
HANCOCK COUNTY.
No. Fires. Acres burned. Damage.
Causes.
River Drivers Observation-Disclosures.
Sparks Locomotive ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. /
Mr.. Ring says that he believes the
people i'll general appreciate the
efficiency of the fire warden system
which is gradually reaching a stage of
development that means much for the
preservation and continuance of the
Maine forests.
Il can assure you that the task of
protecting the Maine forests from fire
i'll view of the many counteracting
agencies, is 4 responsibility that | fully
rcaliZ4.
Did you ever stop to think for a
moment that the fortunes and the flu
turc Of Maine are practically wrapped
up in its trees? If every tree were
suddenly swept from the State, it
would mean the complete humiliation
of an annual income to Maine of over
N'O.GoG,O0b, not to speak of the dcStruc-
u"n Of it, water power 1t may be
said, incidentally. that this sum Of
money is more than the income of all
the other industries in Maine COM
bin"d, with the possible exception OF
agriculture, III" total income from
fra products. as remember it, being
something like $4,000, 900.
The magnitude of the Maine forests
further duWns upon one when it is re-
called that the wooded area Of the
state, covering upwards Of 21,000
:Iuare miles. is larger than the states
Of Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Vermont. while the aggregate forest
territory Of Aroostook county alone is
nearly as great as the whole state of
Massachusetts.
"Thcrc are 40 fire wardcns in the
employ Of Tie forestry department.
These men .rr in constant Communica-
tion With tn forest commissioner and
are trained to immediate response to
ord' rs ana instructions. The warlcns,
As a rule. are recommended by the wild
land owners. and, generally speaking.
have proved competent.
'CI the several factors that have
contributed to the lcsscuing of forest
, CoutlaSratioas. the value of the Be
ware poster should not be wholly lost
sight ". We have posted 10000 Of
these notices in the woods of Maine.
aud We believe they have had a very
| deterrent effect ~ the setting Of fires
some Of til" Wild Hard owners who
! have 80 heartily co-Operatcd with the
! state forestry department have been
! iusu umcntJl tiis year in establishing
! th"r" lookout telephone stations. one
ON thr summit Of Squaw Mountain. one
| 'n Nj. Attcan ana one on Rigclow
| MourtIiu. These stations. with the
aid Of powerful glasses. have covered
a wiGe range II vision and the watch
| mon have thus been enabled to overlook
q vast amount of territory. There is
J little doubt bu; that the station on
| Suuaw Mountain mas been the means
! az saving tens If thousands Of acres OF
| Woodland III the region around Moose
I head lake. The Waterman at this sta
tinn mas been under the direct super
| vision of CHER Fire Warden W. NJ.
| shaw of Greenville who has looked af-
| ter that section Of tile State. undertake
ing the task solely for his interest in
| the work Without remuneration. and TO
| whom believe all the wild land own
! eGs OF that section are greatly indebt-
od for the efficient manner in which he
has performed his work. | believe
these firN stations have come to stay