Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-25

Il cannot say too much in favor of
the results obtained by the protective
system in the Maine Forestry district.
The men engaged in the work are cap
able and enthusiastic and the equip
ment is extensive and modern. Our
people in general are wide-awake to
the importance of forest protection
and are glad to cooperate in every
way possible.
THE state of Maine is rich in nat
ural resources. At the present time
nearly three-quarters of our area, or
more than $4,000, 900 acres, is classified
as forest land. These forests are COM
posed of trees well suited to the needs
of our people.
'The utilization of forest products
has been carried on in Maine since the
early settlement of the country and
today the industry is of first import
ance in the State. Maine ranks first
among the states in the annual cut of
spruce and balsam fir and third in
that of white pine and birch Towns
and committees depend upon the lum-
bering industry for support The an
nual cut of all kinds of timber in the
State approximates 1000, 100000 feet
The value of the logs at the mills is
probably s12,000,000, while the value of
the manufactured product probably
exceeds s20,OO0,00o.
Among the states, Maine ranks
third in developed water powers. These
wonderful powers have an estimated
value Of s150,0OO,000 and are the very
back bone of the present industrial
life of the State, and the foundation
on which future development will be
built They are protected and regulat-
ed by the forests on the water sheds
of the rivers. The function of the for
est in regulating flow is easily illus
trated if we examine the run-off on
barren hill side, where water is dis
charged as soon as it falls. causing
floods and erosion of the soil If the
watershed of a stream is forested the
discharge of water is gradual and the
flow of the stream consequently we'll
regulated and of pure water
But it is not alone for the lumber
that they yield, or the water powers
that they protect. that the forests of
Maine are of value. for they have a
further and perhaps greater value as
the greatest recreation ground of this
nation. Our 1900 inland lakes
are dotted with camps, hotels and cot
tages, where 100000 people from be-
yond our borders spend their annual
vacations. 1t is estimated that the fish
and game interests bring TO the people
of the state $20,000,000 annually
1.-The forests of Maine being so val
liable in every way must be protected
t. t.
walton problem with which we have
to deal and concerns not only the in
terests of the present day but also
the welfare of future generations.
THE greatest destructive agent in
the forest is fire. 1t is undoubtedly
fact that more timber has been de-
stroyed and wasted in the forests of
the State than has been utilized and it
is to do away with this destruction
and waste that the people of the state
should be interested.
THE first great step towards conser-
walton is adequate protection from
fire, and only with this guarantee, can
owners of forest property practice
conservative MANAGEMENT Ideal man
agement maintains the supply of tim
Der or capital of the forest at a maxi
mum. 1t necessitates the leaving of
trees in numbering for future growth,
preserving the young growth at in
creased operating expense and in
many instances the planting of areas
that are not producing timber
THE forests of Maine are divided
now carried out, namely, the great
Will nd -.
the Maine Forestry District of 9.467.-
773 acres. and the forested area of
cities towns and plantations of A.
S24,125 acres.
Forest fire protection in the wild
land section is under the direct sup
eryision of the forest commissioner.
The owners of this property are as
sessed a special tax of one and one
half mills for the support of the pro-
tective system. This assessment for
the year 1914 amounts to s71,16631,
less attachments for 1913 and 1914
amounting to s1,009.94. This territory
is divided into districts. each under
the direction of a chief forest fire
warden. and this officer has supervis-
ion. of all the work in his particular
territory. The lookout watchmani
patrolmen and deputy wardens are his
subordinates.
AN important part of the protec-
tive system is the chain of mountain
lookout stations. These now number
90. Twenty eight were added during
the past two years. The first look out
was established on Squaw Mountain
in the Moosehead lake country and as
far as l am able to learn this was the
first station maintained for the pur-
pose of locating fires in this country.
The system has since spread not only
over Maine, but IT has been adopted
by practically every state having
forest fire protective system.
"Supplementing the look are
patrolmen, who patrol territory where
fires are the most likely to occur.
Our laws in force in the Maine For
estry District require efficient spark
arresters on locomotives; prohibit the
dumping of Goals along the railroads
in the forest area, require the SCREEN
ing or fastening down Of windows of
smoking cars and compartments, and
the railroad patrol act allows the for
est commission to maintain an efficient
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