Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08
Efficient System Of Guarding the
Wonderful Forest Growth Maine
By Neil L. Vioette, Forest Commissioner


granted. The balance was granted
by the Land Agents under the direc-
ton of the Governor and Council,
and under Legislative authority. The
enclosed pamphlet issued by the
state Chamber of Commerce will
give you the detailed transactions
which took place relative to the dis
position of land in this State. This
pamphlet is taken from the 10OS
Forest Commissioner Report.
The first real step in the direction
of organized protection and conSer-
walton was taken in 1891, when the
Legislature passed an act making the
Land Agent Forest Commissioner.
At the same time legislation was en-
acted providing Tor fire protection in
both the organized and unorganiZcd
towns. CuriouSly enough, no pro-
vision was made for participation by
the Forest Commissioner in the fire
protection work. This was left in
the hands of the selectmen of or
g2niZed towns and County Commits
sionerS in unorganized towns. The
Forest Commissioners functions
were confined to investigation and
education. This arrangement con-
tinued in force for twenty years, but
did not result in decreasing the for
est fire damage. especially in the
Northern part of the State. So. in
1907 the law was amended so as to
authorize the Forest Commissioner
Ito take measure for the prevention,
control and eXtinguishment of forest
fires in plantations and unorganiZed
towns" and an appropriation of
$4,000 was made for that purpose.
was left in the hands of the select
men. While this system was an i'm
provement, it fell short of solving
the fire problem, and in 1909 through
the creation of the Maine Forestry
District, fire protection was placed
on a really comprehensive and eff
cient basis. The passage of said act
is the most important and most eff
fective step that has been taken In
forest protection in this State. BY it
an administrative district compris-
ing all of the unorganiZed towns and
all of the plantations which are
wholly taxed as wild lands was Gre
ated. the responsibility of fire pro-
lection in the District is placed
squarely upon the Forest Commits
sioner. Specific provision was made
for the sub districting of this area,
for the appointment of Chief Ward
ems, Deputy Wardens, lookout watch
men and patrolmen, and for the con-
Struction of lookout stations and
telephone lines. Most important of
all the fire protection work was
placed on a stable and more ade-
quate financial basis by special tax
to be used for fire protection pur-
poses only of pa mills on the dol
lar on all property within the dis
trict, making an annual appropria-
ton of about S165.O00. BY an
amendment passed in 1913. any in
corporated town or plantation may.
by vote at any meeting of its inhabi-
tants duly called and held, become
part of the district. At present the
district comprises of $40 unorganized
towns, G2 towns and plantations, and
has total area of nearly 1O,0OO,OOU
acres. The Forestry District is now
divided into thirty sub districts, each
of which is in charge of a Chief
Forest Fire Warden. Under the
chief Wardens come siXty-four look
out watchmen, seventy patrolmen.
and over five hundred deputies who
work only when called upon. The
district owns siXty-four lookout sta
steeD, twelve hundred miles of tele-
phone lines, ana over eighty camps.
enough fire fighting tools to equip
o,OUO men. fourteen automobiles,
sixty canoes and ten motor boats.
The idea of lookout stations. which
originated in this State, is considered
the backbone of our fire protection
system.
Outside of the district, practically
no changes of Importance have been
made since the original law of 1891.
The Forest Commissioner cooperates
with the local official through the
maintenance of six lookout stations.
and to a limited extent in the en-
forcement of the slash law. but has
no control over the fire fighting or
other activities of other local ward
ems. Our fire protection system, cs-
peclally in the Forestry District, is
considered one of the best in the
country.
The present forest area of the
state is about 15,0OO,OO0 acres: TO-
OW,oOo acres of Wild Lands and
o,OOO,OOO acres of farm woodlots.
which are all privately owned. ex-
cept Indian Township in Washing
ton County, which is held in trust
by the State for the benefit of the
Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indians
and about 1000 acres of school lots
IN each plantation, which are also
held in trust by the State for the
benefit of schools in each plantation.
Forests and Recreation
from the standpoint of recreation
forests easily take first place in Civ
ing the State its reputation as THE
Playground of the Nation" More
and more as civilization increases in
conpleNity and as cities grow at the
expense of the country, it becomes
necessary to have refugees to which
people can flee. for rest and recrea-
ton. Maine offers for this purpose
fifteen million acres of forest land of
unusual beauty and diversity. Where
better can one turn for physical,
mental, and spiritual refreshment?
The value of forests as recreation
grounds is due not only to the trees,
but to the wild life which they con-
tam. Game, fish, birds, and the
countless smaller animals which live
IN the woods are just as much forest
products as is wood: for forests are
much more than collections of indi-
Nldual trees. They are rather real
communities in which are associated
various forms of plant and animal
life. More and more clearly it is
being recognized that wild life of all
kinds is a great national resource,
and that this resource can be main
tanned only through the perpetuation
of the forest, of which it is an inte-
grail part. This wild life is of value
not only in itself, and because of it's
production of food and fur, but be-
cause of the visitors whom it brings.
one of the States great attractions
is the abundance of game, birds, and
fish harbored by it's forests.
Maine is iuStly famous FOR Tho