The Republican journal., 1922-10-19
e.xrsT FIRE PROTECTION

This important work is carried on in
this State by the Maine Forestry District
which was established by act of the Leg
islature in 1909 and its work is being
done under the supervision of the Forest
Commissioner whose Office is in the State
House. His regular office force consists
of deputy, stenogrspher and a book
keeper. There are some 30 Chief War
dens who are the field agents of the For
est Commissioner Each one of these
men spends his entire time in the woods
in the summer, and each has a certain
district to supervise and each is respon-
sible 10 the Commissioner for the proper
control, as far as humanity possible, OF ail
fires that may occur in his allotted terri
tory. These men have numerous subor-
dinates known as patrolmen and watch
men, and are responsible for their faith
full and efficient service. These suoordl-
mates are recommended by the Chief
Wardens but are appointed by the Forest
Commissioner and there is no red tape
process in their removal for any derellc-
tion of duty. The duty of every patrol
man is to cover a certain territory every
day in summer when the weather VIII
permit. Besides pstrolling his district ne
is called upon TO build telephone lines
and to see that all lines in his district are
kept in working order. There are many
1f feienhnQe . lines
built and kept in repair by these men.
In 1917, at such times as when patrol
duty was not necessary they built more
than 100 miles of telephone line and IN
stalled 40 complete telephones on the
lines built, almost all of them in the deep
woods, and built Is camps IN the forest
for the men engaged in forest protection
from fire. The average annual cost OF
the patrol service. in recent years, has
been about $4,000.
rhe service also has motor boats on
:. forest surrounded lakes for use
res start at distant points across
=. e.
The main link, however, to the protec-
ton of our great forest area is the noun
tain watchman. We have in this State
sixty-four lookout towers. These are
built on mountain tops Some of these
towers are of wood and some of steel.
They vary in height from ten or fifteen
feet to more than sixty feet. A wooden
tower on Pocamoonshine Mt. at the
height of land of the Machias watershed,
is So feet. The steel tower on Mt kineo
is e. feet. At each of the several look
out stations one or two men are employ
ed. When there is no danger OF ire
they spend their time in improving the
trail leading from the regular patrol
trails to the top of the mountain, bring
ing in supplies, cutting firewood and get
ting ready for dry weather. Then the
real Job begins in earnest. One of them
must be at the top of the tower from
daylight to dark and, through first-cl
binoculars must for miles around search
in every direction, for the slightest ap
pearance of smoke and when first seen
he must telephone his chief warden, stat
ina as nearly as he can the location of
the fire. The cost of maintaining the
lookout service in exceptionally long dry
summers is about s35, 900. and in excep-
tionally wet seasons is sometimes less
than half that sum. The fsithfulness and
efficiency Of the watchmen and the patrol
men working together is shown by the
at in . single year 293 forest fires
sported and more than 200 of these
xtinsuished by the patro men with
-. -Iline assistance from outside their
own force.
The Maine Forestry District comprises
nearly if not all the so-called wild lands
of the State and the law requires that