The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-09-06
Lie of Il State OF Maine Forest
Waterman


say to me Gee l wish had a big
cinch like you have got, nothing to do
and good pay ETC." OF course it is
absolutely no use to reply to that
as it is the general opinion L am
afraid that Lookout Waterman has
a cinch. Well, | am going to take
the opportunity to explain here thru
this paper, briefly as possible, about
how much of cinch it is to hold
down a job from four to five months
every year as lookout Waterman. |
want to start off by saying that
about everyone of the lookout watch
men live absolutely alone during all
this time unless they are fortunate
CD enough to have a wife (and I'M
less she likes the woods be better
be alone) Living alone way up in
the big woods all summer is a Job
in itself that not many amateurs
would relish. Now, all the fair
weather, whether hot or cold, we
must be in the tower and continual
ly searching with the powerful glass
es the forests for a trace of smoke
curling up. That is the most nee
essary part of the job and OF course
we are expected to be right on the
job all day in fair weather. Then
we have wood to cut down, saw up
and split and pile up for the camp.
We have our own cooking to do and
that generally is a messy job for most
men. We have the camp to clean up,
floor to mop, dishes to wash, clothes
to wash and mend and other house
hold Jobs around the camp. Now
comes the outside the camp work.
We have the bushes to cut, grass to
NOV, rubbish to pick up, pile up and
burn. Now we have all of our trails
to cut out and NOW out and that has
to be done at least twice during the
summer. We have all our supplies
to pack into the woods and unless We
are lucky enough to be situated SO
we can get our supplies nearby, as at
some lumber camp, or can use
horse, we have to sack all our food,
clothing, etc. on our back, and 40
pounds is about the limit for load
and a trip a week or at least fen
days. We have to make it after sup
plies. We have our reports to make
out every week and get out to the
chief warden for forest commission
err. Take it all in all | am afraid
1.-THE cinches" do not come into these
mountain jobs | have been in now
this makes seven summers and | like
it; that's why | come; l like the big
woods. Plenty of life too in the
woods if you look for it. l like the
squirrels, the birds hundreds of
them), the deer the cartridges and
all You ask what about the pay
you get?" Well the pay is good.
Better than the average, ordinary
laborer gets and one can save their
money in the big woodss. | per-
sonally do not get as much per day
as | make at my trade at home, but
| can save more during a summer and
that is what counts. You know il
is not so much what you get as what
you save, anyway. You ask Are
the chief fire warden and forest com
missioner good people or bosses to
work under?' III say they are; You
keep on your job and do the square
thing and they will use you fine.
However they are strict and keep an
eye on you. That is absolutely nee
essary, and every week you must re-
port exactly what you have done
every day in the week. You also
report the weather conditions three
times every day.
Take it all in all, | think the Maine
State Forest Protection system is
about as perfect working an organi
cation as we have in the state; also
the most free from politics and graft.
We all hated to see Commissioner
Dana step out, but as long as he is
lettering his position, we of course,
are glad for him, Mr.. Violette and
his staff however are capable of
keeping the good work going and
when we get our new forest COM
missioner | am in hopes he can well
fill the position. as am sure it needs
a good man there Personally |
think Neil Violette is the man for the
job. | have worked in the forestry
service under Blaine Niles, Forrest
Colby. Frank Mace and Charles Dana.
as chief forest commissioners and
Violette as deputy and under Ralph
Wing Harry Sylvester and George
Nichols as chief fire wardens and will
say they have all been good men,
1 expect to go out now before long
as it is getting late in the season.
1t depends altogether on the weather
now / suppose, but | came into the
big woods in April on snowshoes. |
worked month and more on snow
shoes and now after four months. to
go home will be a change; but some
how or other | am in no hurry to
leave these big woods. 1t has been