Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-30

of only $4,000. which had to be devot
ed to eXtinguishment as well as pre-
ventioL.
Experience has taught all who
have made study of the protection
OF forests against fire that first in i'm
portance is the protection that can be
gained by proper patrol 1t has been
the custom of the forest commissioner
each spring to meet, the land owners
of the different sections of the State
at some convenient and central point
to talk over and plan the seasons
work. At the meeting held in 1909, af-
ter the passage of the Maine forestry
district act we made known our plans
for extending the patrol system and
such plans met with hearty approval
of the land owners.
IAN efficient corps of chief wardens
were appointed. men being selected
who We're recommended by the land
owners as being thoroughly familiar
with the territory assigned + to their
CARE. Under the chiefs were placed
enough mel to cover the most exposed
sections and there was not a township
of wild land that was not included in
tilc AtutcS VI Tic lie Wa
tarways and roads most frequently
travelled by rivermen and sportsmen
were particularly well looked-after as
We're tie townships lying along the
railroads.
The Cost Of Patrol System.
"Of the amount appropriated in 1909
there was used in the patrol system
alone, including amounts paid the
chief end deputy wardens. the sum of
$3l,13..1s, making more than one-half
OF the entire amount expended in 1909
going directly for patrol work and
supervision OF the same. In 1910 for
the same class of service there has
been expended up to Nov. l. $3S, 70S.97.
Included in the work of patrol and
constant watch for fires there has
been posted by these men over 10000
danger-tire notices, printed largely in
English. although when it seemed wise
notices printed in French and Italian
have been put up.
Close touch with the men en-
ployed has been possible ty weekly re-
ports returned to the department by
the regular patrclmen being required
al the end of each week to file reports
containing the following information
Township patrolled; Distance trav-
elleC each day; Fires found, time of
same and direction of the wind; local
ity in detail, how sci; kind and guam
tity of timber burned: area of dam
age; method of lighting fire; remarks.
I'm case of fire of any proportion
and causing the hiring of extra men
the chief or deputy Wardens in charge
file reports containing the following
facts: County and township in which
fire occurred; time discovered and
number of hours before it was entirely
extinguished; direction of wind at the
time; method employed in extinguish-
ing same; cause of fire; area burned:
estimated damage; names OF men and
hours employed and the loyal expense
OF extipguishing the fire; the report to
be signed and sworn to by the warden
in charge and approved by the chief
warden of the section in which the fire
occurred."'
According to the report the fire
losses i'll Incorporated towns i'll 1908
amounted to S32,9 65. in unincorporated
townships $63,724. The loss from for
est fires in incorporated towns in 1910
was $i,906 and in unincorporated
townships $685. 'The year 1909, the first
season under the Forestry District.
the appropriation for prevention and
extinsuishment was about $4,000 and
the sulectmen of towns also worked
under the new law making their mu-
inequalities liable for their negligence.
In 1909 causes assigned for fires were:
Clearing land. 81: railroads. y; un
known, IS; river drivers, 5; campers
and fishermen. 10; lightning. q; trap
pers, 1: berrypickers. 2: surveyors, 1,
school children, 1; smokers, 2; porta-
be mill, 2: burning buildings, 2; blue
berry burning. 1. The causes assigned
for the. fires of 1910 were: Clearing
lanG, II; unknown. IL; railroads. ),
campers, g. lightning. 1: blueberry
pickers. 1: hot ashes. 1; boy playing
with fire, !.
Equipment of Wardens.
The forestry department has equip
ped the WardenS with tools for fight
ing fires, which are distributed in con-
vCneEt localities and are branded
with the stamp of the district. The
amount invested in this manner is
$4,000. There are how "a lookout sta.
lions Vi, the high elevations. The con-
structon and equipment of these sta. 4
tions las cost $14.6s4.49 the past TIVE
years. In connection with these sta
tons many lines of telephone have
been constructed bringing the most
remote sections into quick communi-
cation with the chief warden and To-
calities from which help can be easily
secured.
Commissioner Ring states that
through correspondence with Hon. f.
C. Hirst State Forester of New
Hampshire. a system of cooperation
was entered into in 1910, whereby
Maine gets the benefit of the kear-
sarge Mountain station in Chatham
n. H. Other stations overlooking
Maine forests are contemplated h;
New Hampshire, In return Maine
wardens watch for fires in New
Hampshire from the Asiscoos Noun
tain station in Lincoln plantation, OK
ford county system of reVecSint