Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-19
STATE HOUSE,
Comr. Mace Explains with
drawaI Of Patrols.
Joseph {. Moore a Candidate
For United States Senator.
Col. John ]. DooIey Is SignaiIy
honored at Camp Perry.
STATE HOUSE cALEN OAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Wednesday, Sept q at 10 A. M.

| ton nv State Forestry Commissioner
| Mace has been the subject 81 con-
| sidera BILE adverse comment in certain
quarters and, Friday, Commissioner
| Mace. issued statement explaining
| the reasons why the state appropri
atior was so soon expended. resulting
in an enforced eurtailment of patrol
protection, Commissioner Mace says
| 1T has caused much regret on my
part to be obliged TO call off the patrol
men thus early in the season, but
am glad TO state the land owners are
| quick at grasping the situation and
in many sections are putting or men
at their own expense.
| 1T has been one of the worst fire
years in the history Of the State and
many Of the fires have been particular
~ hard to cope with. starting as they
did in many instances. from lightning
| and away from the Travelled ways,
| making it difficult to locate them
quickly and to get Al after being To-
Gated.
| Various sections suffered during the
dr. period of May. but were we'll con-
troled and extinguished without heavy
losses as many of the early fires were
In slash and burned over areas.
| 1t was not until the early part of
July that disaster came 10 The forests,
commencing the Sd and 9TH, following
and continuing with the hot wave
(which swept over the entire country
rendering the woods just like a finder
box susceptible to the least spark.
| Realizing the danger the patrol
force was increased and the already
efficient patrol WAS. in some eases
bombed. Nothing in the line Of pre-
Ivention was lacking and natwith-
standing the department had retained
the best men who had followed the
work in former years the worst fires
occurred in the sections controlled and
looked after by the men Who had been
connected with the States forest SER
vice since 1909 when the first law was
put into effect.
The disaster was no fault hawerer,
of the men as the best of service can
not cope against the clements which
were decidedly against all that was
being done. the cause assigned to some
or the worst fires being lightning. Ii
is hard t. make many believe that for
lest fires are caused from such a source
hut there IS plenty of evidence in the
recent fires that lightning was the
cause.
The extrcnfrlv hot weather and
1.-THE winds on some of the days the
fires were at their height, drove the
flames and sparks in all directions,
Icausing many fires AT the same time.
Hundreds Of men were called On and
responded making an expense of from
$4,000 10 $4,000 DAY continuing at this
rate from 10 10 Is days.
1T was this immense expense COW
ering the cost of fighting the fire add
ed already to the unusually large force
of patrolmen that SO quickly exhausted
the FUNDS.
Up to July !. the expense OF the
department had been quite large, pay
ing the expense of the May fires. but
| the indications az that time were. that
with any kind of average weather and
conditions the forest protection work
| could be carried on until the end of
the season.
| THE reports showing the estimated
| loss are not all in the department as
| vet. but from those that have been
rendered a conservative estimate fixes
| the damage at under 5000 900, the re-
! norted estimate on the two largest
fires being that of 'Frenehtown in
Piscataquis county when 5000 acres
were burned at loss of $4,000 and
of Enchanted in Somerset county
when 10000 acres were burned over
at an estimated loss of $4,000 This
is quite different than the estimated
loss of more than $10O0.0o0 which has
hcen given quite large circulation
through the medium Of out-of-the-
State press.
| The expense Of fighting the two
large fires mentioned above was in the
ncighborhood Of s25,ooo which is good
Iinustratior Of how an appropriation
can be made 10 disappear
| "a more detailed statement will ne
made rs soon as the figures are COM
| nletn hut | consider it hut fair 10 the
! land owners and the public in general
that this statement he made at this
time.
NHnN INC E0tIR NOW