Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-09

mas been accomplished toward SAFE
guarding Names timber wealth from
| fire. In that great body of forested
| territory known as the Maine Forestry
District, with the aid of the federal
government under the Weeks law. a
! system of fire protection has been put
into practice that must compare favor
ably with the protective system of any
state, although still far from being per-
feet AS additional funds become
available many more improvements
should be made.
ON the IS mountain lookout stations
in the State, Il are equipped with
steel towers, which are practically in
destructible if they are kept in good
repair and protected by frequent
painting. The erection Of steel towers
should be continued each year until all
! the wooden towers are replaced by
steel The cabins or home camps of
the mountain watchmen need to be
| kept in first class order and suitably
| furnished, Having in mind the con-
ditions under which these men live,
their isolation and the Importance of
their rema lining continually at their
! pOSlS IL VII De VI dnteu tlldC SOlllc Spt-
cial consideration is due them. Every
season that he remains in the service
makes a Waterman more valuable at
his particular station; therefore, to
hold our good men year after year 1t is
necessary to provide working condi-
tons that are attractive.
In wet seasons it is a mistake to
! try to economiZe by cutting off the care
! and repair of the system. Even after a
short period of neglect it takes months
of extra work to bring the equipment
( back to normal conditions OF eff
ficiency. This is particularly true of
the telephone apparatus. In the long
run it is much better to spend Ger
! tain amount on upkeep each season,
and have everything in order and ready
| for the dry periods.
| Those who are familiar with forest
problems believe that the fire warning
posters, not quoting laws and penalties
alone but rather appealing to the
readers sense of responsibility and
good citizenship, are becoming to be
one OF the most effective aids in forest
+ fire prevention. This is publicity and
is one of the important elements of for
: est protection.
, Each season this department sends
. out thousands of fire warning posters
commonly called fire signs. and it is or
the utmost importance that these
signs be conspicuously posted, not only
in the Maine Forestry District but
throughout the State. as forest protec-
ton from fire is something that needs
to he kept before the public in all sorts
of places Every fire sign sent out
from this department should be given
the full light of day-not laid away and
! forgotten.
I'm order to obtain the greatest ef-
ficiency in the care and management of
our forests, it is necessary that all the
employees of this department. wardens,
watchmen. inspectors. and the like be
selected on the true merit system and
without hint OF patronage or patriot
ism in their appointments. Further
than that. believe that the selection
of the head of the department, the for
est commissioner himself. should be
made entirely on merit. considering
only the fitness of the men for the
place and eliminating all trace of parti-
san influences.
AS illustrating how other states are
endeavoring to promote efficiency in
| their forestry management, | would
mention that "a states in the Union
! ttroited by a non partisan board or