Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-12
Washington Praises Our
Maine Forestry Service

ouI Aii6 eAAC past oCooOiS says VI
Peters. the chief Of state cooperation
connected with the forest service of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture at Washington, in a communica-
ton sent to Frank E. Mace of Augusta,
State of Maine forestry commissioner.
THE same frank and open manner Of
conducting the business of the forest
commissioners Office which has char
acteriZed your administration from the
beginning has made for progress and a
better mutual understanding and con-
fidence between the state and federal
governments"
Va" The features Of your work, merit
ing special mention, are as follows:
F1rst-The Inauguration of much
neeced fire protection work outside the
Maine Forestry District which made
possible the extension Of Weeks law
cooperation to that territory.
"Second-The perfecting of arrange
ments for cooperating in the report
ing and control of forest fires with the
State of New Hampshire and the at
tempt to do SO with the Province Of
Quebec.
Third-The closer and more central
lied supervision Of the work in the
augusta office in the matter of ex-
penoIture of funds Che federal govern
ment, for example, has participated in
the work in Maine to a larger extent
tnan ever before not, however, because
OF the expenditure Of greater sum
OUT because of the carrying Of more
stations with the same expenditure
through better financing). the check
ing of field reports, the placing Of re-
sponslbility for negligence or careless.
ness in reporting fires and the nersor.
al supervision given by both vo,, 90
Mr.. Mathes to conditions and men IN
the field. " ="
Fourth-The improved conditions Of
the once records and procedure.
fi1th-Your giving the deputy COM
missioner an opportunity to become
an ail-round man instead of a mere
once clerk. Much Of the progress not
Gu Is traceable to this, together with
your choice Of man like Mr.. Mathes
WIN initiative and interest to make
such opportunity count.
with reference to federal stations.
1t was found when the insnections
came to be made that three dave .t
least would be required to get into
ROCKY Mountain and back. With %
1ederal stations in the state to INSPECT
and a limited time in which to make
the inspection, it is obvious that three
Gays is an undue proportion of time to
devote to one station. In place of
ROCKY Mountain, therefore, we shall
be glad to have hedgehog substituted
winch will still leave us three stations
IN the north Aroostook county. This
'atter station would have been inspect
eo the past summer but for the stormy
"eather just at the time Mr.. Murphy
was at Ashland which made travel out
OF 'Asniano by road difficult while no
telephone connection with the station
could be had
Otter Lake Mountain was found.
upon inspection, not to be up to stand
ara LOT federal station, if it can be
SAD TO be lookout station at all: it
wouio seem to be more approximately
classed as patrol. Certainly during the
tlme that the man is travelling from
one lookout tree to another. and II "a
understood that he travels altopether
about IS miles a day making the
ROUNDS OF the five trees, the F. w.
aunt company property is solely bene-
ntted./ Slnca Mt. Chase is a federal
station and overlooks practically the
same territory. it is desired that otter
Lake pc discontinued as a federal sta
ton. Wlll you kindly suggest, there
1ore' station to be substituted for il
among the following: Muscalsea. Co.
burn. Snow, Liby Bay. Boundary Bald.
Arlscoos or Spreckle. In making this
choice please give special consideration
70 the FACILITY Of inspection Of the new
station in conjunction with one or more
OF the present federal stations. Second
arlly' OF course. we should be glad to
nave a station with an experienced
man like Walsh. Durrell or Ford on n
In conclusion. the following susges-
lions are offered:
"First-That consideration he given
to the advisability Of printing in the
annual Maine Forestry District booklet
the mail addresses and telephone ex-
changes and numbers by which the
men (watchmen. patrolmen and ward
ens) may be reached while on duty.
"Second-That some scheme be
adopted Of cross referencine related
correspondence and other data in the
files Of the Augusta ofi1ce.'