The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-02-11
HOW TELEPHONES CHECK FIRES.
Results Of One Years Work in the
Forests of New York State.

| New York state finds that the first veal
under its new regulations for the protec
ton of its forest land has been profitable
one. Facts and figures that have Just been
! published show an enormous increase in
| efficiency for the year 1909; they demon
! strate that the measures adopted to safe
guard the wooded area of the Admondacks
aud Catskills have been instrumental in
saving to the state many large tracts of
precious woodland.
The forest, fish and game commissioner.
James ; W nipple, gives some interesting
figures in his report for last year During
1908, with LII towns under the jurisdiction
OF the state the loss from fire amounted to
s6i40oD. In 1909, with the new laws in eff
feet, the loss was only SIS, l0l Last year
there were 250 fires, burning over ii 967
acres: the year previous there had been
700 fires, burning over l17,000 acres In
other words. with more than twice as much
territory to care for there was an increase
in efficiency. based on the number of fires
OF $50 per cent, and an increase in etiic-
iency, based ON the number OF acres burned.
OF no less than 1903 per cent.
The new state laws provided, among 9TH
er things, for paid fire patrol and for the
construction of observation stations on
mountain tops together with telephone
lines through the forests, connecting up
these stations. Watchmen stationed at
these heights sweep the entire forest fire
section with telescopes, and at the least
sign OF smoke their telephones bring them
INTO immediate communication with the
nearest settlement. The telephone method
is the one generally accepted for checking
the spread of dangerous blazes. Through
II and is brought to the spot within very
short time after the start of the fire
Many hours would be lost if messengers
were dispatched
Extensive systems of telephones for fire
protection are found in the national for
ests of the far west. They form mart If
the scheme OF precautlon used in the woods
OF northern Maine. New Hampshire has
plans which involve a considerable ey
penditure to safeguard its White Mountain
aistrct IN this manner, and the state of
massachusetts Is considering the plan for
ITS wooded sections. Last year New York
purchased from the Western Electric com.
pahy, manufacturers of the "BeIl- tele.
phones, Instruments and line material for
systems extending TO the tops of Mount
Hiilayr,, Mount Hunter, Balsam Lake
MSountain, Whlteface. Mount Morris. West
Mountain Mountain, Snowy Mountain and Gore
.1'n Az the crest of Wmtefaee the
telephone station Is placed at an altitude of
nearly 5000 feet 'i'''ie vi
Speaking of the results of the first wear
NE " hlpple says, in his report:
Many times. II the old system had been
III use iarge contiagrations would have
ensued. The point is to get at the FIRE
when it starts. vic i'e
lhis Is one of the chief arguments for ,bo
telephones In the forests.
Inc prominence of the conservation,
question at the present time makes Com. |
missioner Whipples statements of more
lhan usual interest. In his lectures ana
Writings ', the state forester has been plead. |
ing Tor a more general recognition Of rho |
value of New lork's forest Lands The TIE
water power developed in this state and
dependent upon the forests for its mainte
nance, he declares, is about 81 Der cent of
al that developed in the United States 81
ana then, to emphasize the need of NOR
luequate conservation. he makes the state-
heht that IT requires Is acres of woodland
o supply the paper for a single SnnJa,.
'dltion OF certain New York nevsnanar
me ne state has done remarkably well in
Us hrst year OF organized protection,