Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-04-06

| OPERATES WITH WEST
VIRGINIA
Through an agreement, sign
ed March LIST, by the Secretary
/ of Agriculture of the United
States and the State Forest,
Game and Fish Warden, West
Virginia has again been grant
ed Federal aid, under the Weeks
Law, for the year 1916, in the
protection of her forests. By
approving the fire plan, as de-
vised by the State, including a
system of maps, station loca-
'lons, a practical telephone sys-
tenn, patrol routes, supervision
and personal, money was grant
ed the State by the Federal Gov
ernment to pay watchmen and
patrolmen, hired during the fire
+ seasons. This usually covers a
period Of four months in the
j year.
/ IL. J Kaestner, formerly Of
Philadelphia, Pa, and agradu-
ate in the Department of Fores-
try, OF the Pennsylvania State
College, has been appointed
State Forester and also Cola
borator in the United States
Forest Service, with headquar-
ters at Beilngton, West Vir-
I ginia.
SYSTEM FOR DISCOVERING
/ AND FIGHTING FIRES
The State IS divided into six
districts, each under the super
vision of an inspector. Trough
out each district, local Deputy
Fire Wardens are appointed,
whose duties ii is to assist in
fighting and extingushng fires.
Watchmen, located upon
mountain peaks. control the
country for miles around, each
station covering an area of APP
proximately S04 square miles
by use of maps, protractols,
alidade, compass and glass, fires
are detected in their infancy and
assistance obtained SO that nc
conflagration can occur.
Patrolmen have regular
routes to travel, regular points
to visit and like watchmen, per.
form day and night work, when
occasion arises. These patrols
are made by automobile, horse
and foot. Both patrolmen anc
watchmen are required to make
triplicate weekly reports, one Of
which is retained at the station
! one forwarded to theDistrict In
spector and one to the centra
office.
EQUIPMENT USED.
All duties are defined by thu
central Office at Belington. Look
out stations are habitable quar-
ters, making the men comforta
BILE during inclement weather
Tool caches and other supplies
are packed in to especial firt
hazards. Maps and Furnished
and the men are taught the ri
diment of triangulation. Trails
and fire breaks are cut wher'
necessity dictates, portable tele
phones are used, affording quicl
communication.
FIRE ASSOCIATION OR
i CANNED.
Realizing the tremendous say
ings to themselves, the lumber
men were quick to organize a
long similar lines Of work. The
result has been the organizing
of the Central West Virgini;
Fire Protective Association. Thi'
organization alone maintains
seventeen patrolmen, who traml
the Businesses the mountains
where the lands Of the members
are located. A field manager
has been employed who is an &C
credited forester, with offices il
New York City, but who takes
active charge of this work dur
ing the fire season.
EXTENSION OF THE WORK
In the year 1913, when thu
Federal Government EXTENDED
it's first cooperation to assis
the State in protecting the for
ests from fire, only thirteel
counties were included in th'
cooperative area, viz: Braxton
Greenbrier, Grant, Hampshire
Hardy, Mineral, Nicholas, Pen
dleton, Pocahontas, Preston
Randolph, Tucker and Webster
4 These counties were consider
- 4 L.