Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-08-17
reI.phones In the Maine Woods.
INTERESTING USES OF A MODERN con-
yrNIENcR-sIaNAL TOWERS TO PRE'
VENT SPREAD OF FOREST FIRES.

One of the mos. interesting uses to
which the telephone has ever been put 10
reported from the woods OF Northern
Maine. where lumber camps are hnding
It an invaluable aid during the logging
season. Many and varied are the tasks
which the phone has been called upon
to perform since its use has become SO
universal in this country, but this case Is
rather unique.
Travellers in the heavily wooded Sec
lions of Maine have lately noticed the
wires strung along with the trunks OF
trees for supports. These connect Win
the dams on the streams down which the
logs float. Should there be sudden
lam In the mass of lumber making its
way down the stream, the telephone 10 at
once pressed into service, and the man
at the dam is notified to hold up all the
logs until the lumbermen above have had
time to straighten out the taDgle..
In former days this service was per.
formed by relays of shouters. Men stood
on the banks of q river at intervals small
enough to allow each to be heard by his
nearest neighbor Sometimes the distan-
cen from the lumber camp to the log jam
and from that to the nearest dam were
very great. 1t can be easily seen what an
enormous advantage the loggers with
telephones have.
The most important thing to be con-
sidered 10 the new system OF warning Is
the degree of efficiency OF the tree-to-
tree telephone service. So 1t is that the
lumbermen take great care In Installing
their apparatus and stringing the wires.
The Instruments and apparatus in the
Maine woods were leased by the local
,mpanes from the Western Electric
Compan which supplies all the tele-
phones and accessories used by the Bell
Telephone system throughout the coun-
try.
An application OF the telephone meth
cd or logging was witnessed recently on
the west branch of the Pen0bscOt River.
The water pursues its way over rough
and uneven course, 80 there are many
rough spots over which the logs are to
be guided. The men of the crew keep
strict watch on the glut OF logs as It
pears some big boulder In midstream:
Perhaps it will pass down the river and
avoid the obstacle; If 80, we'll and good.
II the logs hit the obstruction and begin
, to pile up, then 1t is time for quick action
on the part of the crew.
To shout along the banks OF the river
for the man away below to shut the gate
and keep the lower logs from passing
through used to be the procedure. Now
adays the man at the telephone gives
three long rings, and this attracts imme-
diate attention at the dam. He hurries
the order to keep the channel closed
dynamite is applied to the jam, and when
the course is clear, another telephone
message starts the logs floating down.
stream again.
i Maine is also finding the telephone
useful in her war ON forest fires. The
land agent and forest commissioners at
! Augusta recently had installed number
of telephone sets on lookout stations In
the northern part of the state. Men are
posted at these commanding spots with
telescopes and keep vigilant lookout
for trouble. At the least sign OF blaze
or smoke they telephone to the nearest
fire.fghting station for help. Without
the phone the woods would have TO
burn until aid was brought by courier.
The campaign against forest fires in
Maine is a more determined one this sea-
son than ever before. Eight watch. towers
have been erected, each with its telescope
telephone connection. The watch.towers
and are on the highest points of land in
Hancock, Washington, Somerset. Piscata.
quis, Aroostook, Penobscot, franklin and
oxford counties, all of which have felt the
effects of the fires in past seasons.
| Last year the damage in Maine
amounted to selS,s18, according to Com
missioner E. E. Ring. The watchmen in
their towers this year are able to sweep
the entire forest fire section, and at the
least sign of smoke their telephones
bring them into immediate communica-
ton with the nearest settlement and aid
is at once dispatched. Foresters are
eagerly awaiting a real test of the use
fulness of the new system.