Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-17
Calls The Statements Of FEEDER
al Officer Unwarfanied.
Maine Fire Losses for Nine Months
Amount to S5,099,000.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Rec ular Meeting of Governor and
Council Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 A. NJ.
Regular Meeting Of Governor and
Council Thursday, Nov. 16 at 10 AM.


Estate forest commissioner gave out an
Interview, Monday. in which he makes
a somewhat caustic reply to a recent
Interview given out by George Otis
ISmith, director of the United States
ICfological Survey. Mr. Mace speaks
OF Director Smiths article as An I'M
warranted and shameful attack
Commissioner Mace SAYS:
through the columns Of the Indie
lpendant Reporter published in Show
began, under date or Oct ;, George
Otis Smith of Skowhegan is credited
with making an unwarranted and
shameful attack upon the forestry de-
Ipertmcnt of this state. If it were not
lfcr the deliberate, false and misleading
statements It contains, 1 would pass 1t
By without thought, but such STAB
lin the back at Names forestry ser
lvjco 7 cannot allow to go unanswered.
The interview in which the Re-
porter allowed Mr.. Smith to run wild
lin his statements is based upon the
lor Ganization of the kennebec Valley
Protective Association. recently per-
feeted at Skowhegan and made up
largely of Kennebec lumbermen.
AS set forth in the articles of in
corporation the purpose of this asso-
lciation is to protect the cumberland
owners where the means employed by
the State are inadequate. in order that
property in forest land may have the
same security that other property en-
joys. by promoting and encouraging
lIhe practice of forestry upon private
Hand. by encouraging the propagation
AMI guarding OF the fish and game, and
b. The development of the storage res
ervoirs on the ponds and lakes
Now an organization witty such OBJ
jects in view should be highly COM
mended and If it's object was to aid
and not tear down the good work that
has been done in this State in the pro-
lection of its forests, I would be
among the first to lend 1t all the aid
/ could. privately and officially.
Judging, however, from Mr.. Smith 8
interview, il il not the purpose of this
lnew organization to cooperate with
the State, but its prime object is to
oppose the best efforts of the Maine
Forestry District
After telling of what wonderful
things this private corporation could
dc. Mr.. Smith proceeds with his tear
ing down process on the Maine For
estry District To quote him exact lie
Saws, The organization of State and
district fire wardens has been effected
ard fire watches and patrols appoint
eel, but before the two larger forest
fires on the kennebec head waters
had started. early in the summer, ap-
lparently most of the available State
lfurds had been exhausted Indeed
tie patrols had been discharged. thus
pr; ting out of commission an inpor-
e =, a.
ivife. In the case of the Enchanted
disirict the patrol had been taken off
,on'y a week or so before the disastrous
fire started or July 3rd. Had the State
been able TO continue unto the summer
/, the patrol service, it would have re-
suited in that one LOCALITY in the saw
Ing of an area Of forest aggregatiug
mere than 12.ono acres in two or three
townships. since the place where light
ming started that fire was close 70 the
lire Of patrol
Now what are the facts in the case.
'The big fires 10 which he refers oc-
Cured r July and II was not until
Au;. 10 that general orders were sent
nui from the Forestry Office that pa
troll work must cease on account of
the lack Of funds After some heavy
rains In June a letter of caution was
sent out advising using as few patrols
as necessary. but leaving it to the
Judgment of the chief wardens to in
err ase the force when needed
In regard to the Enchanted fre to
which Mr.. Smith refers and states
that had there been patrols the fire
could have been averted. That fire
was set by lightning during ono of the
electrical Of
can't say whether all patrols were
under cover and trying to dodge the
Ilieatnlng, but ! do know that in direct
Opposition to Mr. Smiths assertion,
that no patrols were on. We take iron,
tn official report and monthly bill of
Henry Kennedy of The Forks Zap
proved by Chief Warden Frank II.
Sterling) this entry, July 3-first re-
port Enchanted fire on this date
AGain ! turn to the report of the man
ON the Mt. Coburn Lookout station, p
~ Walsh and his report shows this
ENTRY; July 3, 1889, located fire on No.
Is X. and notified F. II. Sterling at 1
/. IA. also Albert McDaniels at Jack
man. Cause of fire. lightning That
jdoes not look though there We're no
men on the job.
The fire did spread and did do
a lot OF damage. but it was not be-
cause II was not discovered in time,
as 30 quicker work in the way oi noti-
tying the proper authorities is ON rec
ord If Mr.. Sterling, or the one who
should have acted. did not respond as
quickly as should have been tine ease,
il Is up to him to explain
New a few figures will not be oat
OF place here. The records show that
theHe has been expended in the Ken
rebec district including only that
portion of the district west OF Moose
iesd lake. the sum. in round numbers,
of nearly S23,0oo and as the larger
nart as that sum was expended in
Somerset county il does not look as
though that section was Tot getting its
share when the assessors report
sliovs that the wild lands of Somer-
set county are assessed only 49, 10
!. foe the purpose Of the Main" Forestry
/ District. 1