Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-17

OplnCAl
1.-THE chief fire wardens have been
selected and commissioned after
conference with those interested in
Timberland protection throughout
the State. You are the men that
have the confidence Of those who are
vitality interested. Let no man abuse
this trust.
Have the Waterman in the look
out station communicate with some
one by telephone at least twice each
day that you may be sure the man is
alive and that the telephone is work.
ing. A station without telephone
communication is useless. Instruct
the man in case he is unable to get
telephone communication to start out
on the line and find the trouble. If
he is unable to repair the same have
him keep on travelling until he comes
to some place where he can get into
I telephone communication with you
and receive instructions.
Instruct the Waterman, in so far
as you can, in the care of the tele-
phone instruments and line. 1t is al
ways we'll to have extra batteries at
the station, pair of climbing irons if
the line is high above the ground,
and extra wire, insulators, etc.
Instruct the Waterman as to the
telephone connections in the locali-
ty, who to notify in case of fire, etc.
THE system of forest fire lookout
stations which was started in Maine
has extended over the country. IL
seems to be an effective way of con-
trolling forest fires by discovering
them at their start and getting men
to the place before they become un-
manageable. The system should be
improved and extended and all meas
ures taken to make each station eff
fective.
AN adequate supply of tools for
fighting fire should be kept in con-
venient places in each chief warden's
district. The tools should be well
housed and collected after use and
| they should be used for no other pur-
pose than that of fire fighting. If
your district is not properly supplied
please notify this department at once.
"A limited number of patrolmen
are undoubtedly necessary in each
district when the woods are in a
dangerous condition. The men who
are appointed on recommendation of
! the chief wardens must be capable
woodsmen, and men who can be of
practical use. They should wear
their badges so that those who travel
the woods and meet them will know
that the forests are being patrolled
and that infringements of the fire
laws will be prosecuted. They must
keep accurate reports on the blanks
furnished them and make prompt re-
turn of the same to this department
and the chief warden of the district.
DO not overdo this matter of pa
trolls hut when it is necessary put on
some good men who will do some
/ good work.
1T is important that each section
be we'll posted with fire notices that
those who travel in the forests may
read and remember. The work can
be done by patrolmen. Do not allow
| a deputy warden to run up against
an uncalled for bill in this work.
This department is fully aware
that the men on the ground are bet
| ter acquainted with conditions than
the Forest Commissioner can posi-
bly, be. He will rely upon the chief
wardens to set the lookout men and
patrolmen at work when in his
judgment it is necessary and to con-
tinue them as long as in his judg-
ment it is necessary. He will hold
each chief warden responsible for the
protection in his district. No man
should be put on patrol or on lookout
stations without being commissioned
by this office, and notice must be
given the office when men are placed
at work and taken off,"