The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-05

handle any local problem as we'll as
those who find their own or their
employers property in danger, and
who spend much Of their time on the
lands to be protected The directors
| OF the Kennebec Valley Protective
Association surpass in their knowl 3.
edge of the Somerset county forests
any State Commission that is likely
ever to be appointed, and from the
large interests in these timberlands
which they personally represent, the
maximum activity and efficiency In
time of need is assured But II ism I
necessary to compare men. the Off
activity of a state officer puts him
at great disadvantage Much of
the red-tape is necessary, but 1t in
wolves divided authority and divided
responsibility. The same red-tape
that the poor official uses to shield
his inefiiciency is a hindrance to the
other officer who wishes TO do things.
In these days 1t is a bold official who
attempts to manage a public trust as
he would his own private business.
Not only does he thereby risk his
own reputation, but his acts are
likely to be misrepresented. if he is
a Federal officer by the Democratic
press as rejecting upon the char
acter of President Taft, or if he hap
pens to be a state official, by the
Republicans as evidence of Gov
Plaisteds unfitness for the high posi-
ton he holds. With a public all too
ready to attack anything out of the
routine, initiative and enterprise can
hardly be expected from the public
officer"
Then you think the Maine forests
can be better protected by their own.
ners than by the state?" was asked.
Yes, believe we are driven to
that conclusion. A large part of the
work must be undertaken by the
timberland owners themselves, TAX
ing natural units as the basis of
their work Such a natural unit, the
kennebec drainage basis, an area of
some two million acres of forest
lands, is covered by the new organi-
cation which | believe is the first of
itc hind in O,,or N7or,,
Hampshire, the timberland owners in
the northern part of the state have
organized and assess themselves a
cent an acre, representing IN their
membership about a million acres,
believe. | happened to attend meet
ing of that association, and | under
stood that they divide the work of
fire prevention with the state. How
that can be done to the best adyan-
tage here in Maine needs to be work.
ed out. 1t is to be expected that the
state will find it easier and advisable
to continue the administration of the
Watch-station system, which involves
only expenses that can be estimated
in advance and presents no eXigen-
eies that demand specially equipped
men and quick credit. The local as
sociation may decide that ii is better
for 1t to provide its own patrols,
whose efficiency and faithfulness
the officers of the association can
better control. | believe the New
Hampshire association has its own
patrol system. Experience has
shown that when the emergency
arises. the landowners are forced to
step in and protect their own prop
erly, throwing into the fight against
the spread of the forest fire, all their
resources of men familiar both with
the locality and with the trick of
handling large crews of men. II may
have occurred to You. however, as !
have talked on this subject of state
versus private agencies, that the
| edcral Forest service has organized
q Nf'A tll' lsill III t-pl tNtuilII- anu
re-fghting force on each of the big
national forests. But, there, you will
note, the Federal Government is the
owner and brings to the
lob, not a set of nonresident officials
or even farmers and storekeepers
resident in the vicinity, but the local
forest officers, supervisors and
rangers, whose business is forest
management, and who constantly
traverse the forest areas that they
are supposed to protect. That is the
class of men that | know we'll enough
the Kennebec Valley Protective di-
rectors will employ, the same men
they employ to manage their lands
and numbering operations"
What are the plans of the Kenne-
bee Valley Protective Association? ?"
vas asked. "As only one member Of
the association, | should refer you to
President Viles and his four asso-
GATES on the board of directors.
Yet can express my belief that
the organization has great possihili-
ties of efficiency, because the men,
hers have wisely placed in small
,....,a ,,r,o+;,o11, oil authority mood