The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-24
MICHIGAN BOYS WILL
ORGANIZE TO PREVENT
FOREST FIRES IN STATE
Youths of Wooded Districts Are
Being Mustered Into Com
panies For This Purpose.
MEDALS ARE TO BE GIVEN
Gov. Osborn Approves Plan That
Is Being Directed by Game
Warden Oates
MEDALS ARE TO BE GIVEN

LANSING, Mich. Jan. f4.-"Micht
gan Forest Scouts is the title to be
conferred on the school boys or the
wooded districts OF the state who are
now being mustered in companies as
auxiliary IRE wardens." under the
direction Of Game. Fish and Forestry
Warden william r. Oates. The scouts
are q synonym for big educational
movement. The primary object OF the
organization Is the dissemination OF
knowledge of the importance OF the
prevention of forest fires to the boys
aud girls OF the state, and through
them. 10 their parents. Gov. Osborn
Endorses the plan as an innovation
that viii put Michigan in advance OF
other states.
Rules for conduct and service are
recited IN a text book compiled by
the department which provides medal
rewards for the boys In three degrees.
Salary provision 10 made for the older
boys when exigencies call for actual
IRE fighting service. The age require
ments for active scouts Is from seven
TO Is years, Inclusive.
That the movement may be co-edu-
cafional, all girls and boys OF the pub
lic schools OF the state will have COM
petitive rights In an annual story con-
test under the supervision of the for
estry department In which medals OF
three degrees will be given. The
stories will relate to the work OF the
boy scouts.
Honorary membership will be con-
ferredN with medals, on such men or
women, boys or girls, not eligible as
active members who shall have per
formed such service as would entitle
an active member to state award. The
scope OF the organization, however, Is
broad. II will afford all the outdoor
life OF the Boy Scouts, but there will
be no uniform or equipment assess
ments.
Reforestration and game and fish
preservation will be next In import
ance to forestry protection with the
scouts. w. B. Mershon, or Saginaw.
with Theodore Roosevelt and other
members Of the advisory committee
OF the American Game Protective q
Propagation association, have prof
fered medals to the scouts for stories
relative 70 game and fish.
Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
tionNI u. L. Wright, has promised the
cooperation Of his department In this
movement IL IL proposed to organ
Ire otle or more scout companies In
every school district In the forest coun-
try. The general scout territory VIII
extend north from Arenac county and
embrace the upper peninsula
When organized the scouts will be
under the immediate supervision or
the deputy state IRE wardens In their
districts. A deputy will be selected
for general charge OF the field. Il will
be the duty OF the district deputies
to acuuaint the boys with their own
knowledge OF forestry and IRE Tight
ing and 70 accompany them on forest
expeditions. Care will be exercised
that the young boys win be exposed
to no danger OF life or limb by reason
OF their afiliation with the scouts.
The gold medal hero" awards will be
given for informal voluntary work In
the protection OF frontier life or prop
erty. -
FORESTRY Warden Oates predicts
that the loss by frn during the dry
seasons will be minimized through the
surveillance OF the scouts He be
lieves that the possibility OF practical
demonstration can be SOON made ap.
parent by the work Of the boys.
Scout companies are to be commits
stoned flrst at 0scoda. Mikado, Au
Ores. Alpena, Cheboygan, Grayling,
81. Ignace, The 500, Marquette,
Ironwood. Manistiaue.- Me-
nominee. Petoskey. Muskegon and
West Branch.