Part III

is needed, liike leaves and dry wood away from it. and in windy weather dig a shallow hole for it. Xev(>r l)uild a fii"e against hollow logs or trees where it will be hard to extinguish. Never leave camp until you have entirely extinguished the fire with water. Be careful with matches, cigar or cigarette stubs and burning tobacco, and never throw them where there will be any chance of them igniting leaves or wood. THE TiOOKOFT SYSTEM. Through the contract entered into by the Secretary of the Department of .\gricnlturo of the T'nited States with the State of West Virginia, under section 2 of the Weeks Law, ) ( ^u federal funds to not exceed $5,000 annually are obtained for the purpose of employing men to watch for forest fires. Under this contract the state is required to expend an amount equal to that furnished by the federal government. These funds are to be used in building and equipping lookout stations, building roads, trails, telephone lines, and other auxiliary matters thereto. These government men are divided into two classes--thos<> who stay on lookout duty at the stations which are constructed on high mountain peaks, and those who patrol especfally dangerous hazards. LOOKOUT AVATCHMEN. -- Terriforii The district under supervision by each lookout watchman embraces sixteen miles in each direction, thus forming a circle with a diameter of thirty-two miles. It is the duty of t?ie watchman to become thoroughly familiar with all of his territory, to make note of the most dangerous hazards, to become acquainted with all persons in his district, and especially to become thoroughly familiar wnth the location of all deputy forest, game and fish wardens, and ascertain .lust how to get them on phone. He should also become acquainted with the railroad officials, trainmen and trackmen, lumber operators, etc., and secure their cooperation along the lines of fire prevention and control. -- Photie Lines When the watchman goes on duty in the morning he should first ascertain if his phone is in working order. If it is not, then a patrol should be made of the line, and if the trouble cannot be found he should come down to the nearest phone and call his inspector, and make a report of this trouble. This is one of the most important links in this system of forest protection, and any watchman allowing his phone to be out of commission and not making any effort to have same repaired will be sub.iect to immediate dismissal. Where it is possible to do so communication should be had several times each day with the inspector in charge, which will show that the watchman is on duty, and also be the means of discovering any trouble in the nne. -- Maps and Field Glasses Each lookout station is equipped with a map table, maps, and field glasses to assist in quickly (24 ) flctcrmining the location of a tire. These maps are circular, tlurty-two inches in diameter and on a scale of one mile to the inch, thus showing the territory over which the watchman has charge, the lookout station location being exactly at the center of the map. These are placed on the movable table, covered with plate glass to protect them from water and dirt, and over this table swings an alidade. The maps are set directly north and south, and when a fire is discovered the sights on the alidade are placed in line with it. J\y reterring to the map the persons living in a direct line with this fire may be found, together with their phone numboi*. if they have any. and by calling several persons along this line the exact location of the fire may be ascertained. -- Procedure in Case of Fire After the location of the fire has been determined the deputy warden living nearest to It should be notified and requested to take charge of It, or if no appointed deputy can be found then some constable, sheriff or deputy sheriff living near the fire should be ordered to take it in charge. If all efforts along these lines fail the district inspector should be notified, or in case of emergency the watchman should go himself and take charge of the fire. The latter method should only be used, however, when all other efforts fail, as it is not advisable to leave the station for any purpose on dry days. -- On Wet Days When the weather is wet and there is no danger from fires tlie watchman should get out from the station and become acquainted with the people of his district, cut brush which is likely to interfere with the working of his phone lines, locate trails and roads which would be of value in getting to fires and also be a place to stop them. Fire warnings should be posted in conspicuous places, and other literatiire distributed among the people. TTiis is the only chfnce that the watchman has to complete a system that will be effective and he should take every advantage of it possible. -- Rural Mail Carriers The postoftice department of the T'nited States government has requested all rural and star route carriers to notify the proper authorities when they discover a fire along their route, and the lookout watchman should use every means to secure their hearty co-operation along this line. -- Securing Deputy Fire Wardens The discovery of a fire means nothing unless the watchman has some means of hav- (25 ) ing it extiuguished. Consequently he should make an effort to obtain a number of good deputy forest, game and fish wardens around him, so that he will not be handicapped for want of assistance when a lire breaks out. Only honest and' trustworthy men should be selected for this position. -- Reports Reports must be made out each week, showing in detail the work done, fires discovered, disposition of same, weather conditions, etc., as is set out on the report blanks furnished. One of tliese reports is to be mailed to the forest, game and fish warden, Belington, W. Va., and one to the district inspector, the other being retained by the watchman for his own files. These should be mailed as soon after the week's work is closed on Saturday evening as possible. Any matters which the watchman does not thoroughly understand should be referred at once to the district in- spector, or to this office. Any suggestion as to a possible way to better the system will be given the most careful attention when sent to this office. Each watcliman has a chance to know the requirements of his own territory much better than any other official in the department and it is his duty to see that all means possible are used to better the system in the section over which he has charge. At all times when the watchman is not on lookout duty he should carry a number of forest laws, cloth posters, handbooks, etc., with him and place these where they will be the means of securing a better co-operation in this work. All such supplies will be furnished on request. PATROLMEN. There are three classes of patrolmen in West Virginia. Federal Patrolmen receive their pay from the United States Government, Association Patrolmen are paid by the Central West Virginia Fire Protective Association, and private patrolmen are employed by many of the private timberland owners of the state. -- Routes A route is laid down through the most dangerous areas, over which the patrolman is required to make a certain number of trips each week, this being determined by the lensjth of the route, the character of the territory and whether the patrol is to be made on horse-back or afoot. ( 26 ) -- Aiithoritif Each patrolmnn is apix.inted as a deputy fire- warden which fcives him full authority to take char.a:e of forest fires, summons help, hire volunteers, and use all necessary means to extinguish fires. -- Equipment Regular equipment consists of field glass, compass, a light i)ole ax, folding water pail, map of his route, and a supply of forestry laws, posters, handbooks, etc. Locdiiiiii I'irrs -When any high elevation is reached a careful survey of the surrounding territory should Ix" made, with the field glass, and any smoke or other indications of fire should immediately he investigated. If it is ascertained that a forest fire is burning he should piit some diM^'ity In charge, or if none can lie found he should simmion licii) and lake chaige himself. -- ('omi)iiniic(itin(f irllh Jjmlfnit WntcJinifni When a lookout watchman covers the territory over which a patrol route extends, the patrolman should make arran-^ements to rommunicate with the watchman as many times during the day as possible, .\fter the route has been covered a few tlmc^a it will be possible to iiinke out a schedule showing: about th^ time of day when the patrolman will pass points whpre there is a telephone, and this schedule should be furnished the watchman so that he will be able to get in touch w'th the former if he discovers a fire in the territory of the patrol route. T'pon the discover.v of a fire the patrolman should send word to the lookout watchman, so that the latter will know that the patrolman has same in charce. and so that both will not summons men for the same fire. As soon as same is under control a report should be made to the watchman Trails, Roails, Etr.---\n wet wenther when it is not necessary to go over the route to watch for fires the patrolman should be opening up trails, and abandoned roads so as to furnish a place to stop fires, as well as a means of gettlnja: to them. -- Posters, Lfl/r.s, Etc. Cloth posters containing fire warnfnirs should be posted along routes of travel, at all cross roads or paths, at all railroad stations, post oflices. and in the woods at all natural campini spots or points frenuented by hunters or fishermen. Laws and hand books should be furnished to all persons possible. Tliese will be furnished by request to this department. ( 27 ) The patrolman is requested to make the acquaintance of all persons in his territory and to explain to them the nature of his work, the advantages to be derived from protecting the forests from fire, and to secure their co-operation in this work. -- Reports Reports are to be made out in triplicate every Saturday night on blanks furnished. These should be full and complete, showing in detail all the work done during the week, fires discovered, disposition of same, persons met, miles traveled and any special work performed. One copy of this repoft is retained for the patrolman's files, one sent to his district inspector and the other forwarded to this office. -- Regarding Leave of Absence of Lookout Watchmen, Pa- trolmen and Other Employees. Before any lookout watchman, patrolman or other employee quits duty for any purpose the inspector in charge should be notified and his consent secured. In case of illness which prevents any such employee from performing his duties word should be immediately sent to the inspector as well as to this office, so that, in cases where there is likely to be any fires occur, an extra man can be placed in service. LIST OF OFFICERS IN THE FOREST, GAME AND FISH DEPART'MENT. J. A. ViQLESNEY, Forest, Game and Fish Warden, Belington. W. B. Rector, Chief Deputy, Belington. Otho Williams, Chief Deputy, Martinsburg. Special Deputies and Inspectors. F. M. Glenn David Frame Walter R. Cook Parsons. Gassaway. Rockview � LOCAL APPOINTED DEPUTIES. BARBOUR COUNT'S. Bolyard, E. C Booth, Fred Booth, G. L W Boyles, C. M Campbell. A. Gainer, O. J M Himes, F. Ilolbert, B. E McCoy, M. D Nutter, Amos G O'Brien, M. N Pitman, J. C Sandridge. Joe W Talbott, R. Dellet Thofnhill, J, Walden. .T. C Wenzel. E. A M Werner, O. Kasson Belington. R. 4 Bolington. R. 1 Philippi, R Volu'a. R. 2 Valley Furnace Rplington, R. 2 Belinp:ton Volsa, R 2 Philippi. R Belington, R Lillian Belington, R 1 Philippi. R 1 Belington Montrose. R 2 Belington Belington, R 4 BERKELEY COUNTY. W H Appell, R. Butts, Charles Butts, M. K Dailey, J. J Dunn, David Henson, E. R H Keller, R. Martinsburg Hedgesville Hedgesville, R 9 Martinsburg, R 3 Martinsburg Bunker Hill Bedington (29 ) BOONE COUNTY. Burgess, S. J Horn, W. P Workman, Allen Seth Pond Chap BRAXTON COUNTY. Colebank, Robert T. . Hosey. C. J Johnson, I. R W Perrlne, S. C Piercy, B. Taylor, Ed A W Wilson, M. R l^eager, G. Sntton (Vntralia Glendon Levi Gassaway Sutton Tessla Frametown Colson, J. D Krager, W. .1 McCoy. O. L Morgan, W. J Pasters, Henry BROOKE COUNTY. Colliers Follansbee Wheeling Follansbee Follansbee CABELL COUNTY. Lusher, E. M. Merrick, F. H Price, Sterling. . .