‘tnfr jif Niw 3JIampaInrc BIENNIAL REPORT of the FORESTRY DIVISION Concord, New Hampshire 1957 - 1958 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page REPORT TO GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL 5 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY DIVISION Introduction 6 Forest Protection Forest Fire Service 11 Administration 11 Central Supply Depot 13 Review of Forest Fire Conditions 1956 Season (July-December) 14 1957 Season 14 1958 Season (January-June) 16 Fire Prevention 17 Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission 20 Training Wardens and Deputy Wardens 22 District Special Deputy Wardens 22 Maintenance and Repair of Equipment Lookout Stations 22 Forest Fire Equipment 27 Radio Communications 29 Unorganized Town Fire Presuppression 30 Cooperation with Other Agencies 31 Registration of Mills 32 White Pine Blister Rust Control 33 Forest Pest Conditions 38 Public Forests State Forests and Reservations 40 Prospecting and Mining 42 State Land Leases 42 Management of State Forests 44 Federal Flood Control Areas 50 Reforestation 50 Other Management Activities 51 Forest Inventory 52 Coordination of Uses on State Lands 52 State Forest Nursery 54 White Mountain National Forest 61 Private Forestry The New Hampshire County Forestry Program 63 Tree Farm Program 69 Registered Arborists 69 Surveys and Statistics Forest Research 72 Forest Products Cut in 1956 and 1957 75 Financial Statement: Appropriations 1957 and 1958 81 Legislation 1956-57 84 I A Allan Ayro Photo, Laconia, N H. Mr. Ljle N. Watson, Assistant State Forester, 1912 - 1957 Forty4ive years service. REPORT To His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Council: The Forestry and Recreation Commission submits herewith its report for the two fiscal years ending June 30, 1958. This consists of a record of the activities of the Forestry Division and brief accounts of related agencies prepared by the State Forester and his staff. HARRY K. ROGERS, Chairman, OWEN JOHNSON, RANDALL E. SPALDING, LAWRENCE C. HACKETT, JASON C. SAWYER, Forestry and Recreation Commission. WILLIAM H. MESSECK, JR., State Forester d I — INTRODUCTION Administrative Staff State Forester WILLIAM H. MESSECK, JR. Administrative Assistant II EVERAND D. YOUNG ALPHONSE J. Ro Accoruntant II WALTER MARTIN Warehouse Manager MARGERY A. SPINNEY Account Clerk III CONSTANCE S. SMITH Clerk Steno ill JULIETTE V. CAMIRE Clerk Steno III PAULINE P. CHAPUT Account Clerk II Responsibility of the Forestry Division The land area of New Hampshire is 84 per cent wooded—4,850,000 acres; of this amount 4,000,000 acres are privately owned (about 35,000 woodlot owners) and the balance (800,000 acres) is in public ownership — White Mountain National Forest 677,000 acres; state forests 47,000 acres; state parks 17,000 acres and the rest in federal flood control areas, or owned by towns, cities, counties or other state agencies. It is quite clear from the above that the primary responsibility of the Forestry Division is to interest and encourage private woodlot owners to adopt intensive forest management practices on their hold ings. The attainment of this objective would support a greatly ex panded forest economy in the state and increase the aesthetic value of our woodlands in the process. We are using several approaches to attain this long range objective: (1) We are expanding and improving our forest fire protection and forest pest and disease control programs with emphasis on forest fire prevention (Smokey Bear, increased en forcement, etc.); (2) to encourage reforestation, we are making forest planting stock available to woodlot owners at approximately 50 per cent of production costs; (3) on a self-supporting basis, we are placing our state forests under intensive management practices to serve forest demonstration purposes; (4) we are carrying out forest research at our Fox Research Forest to assist the small woodlot owner in solving some of his more common management problems; (5) under our REPORT OF FORESTRY DIVISION 7 Cooperative County Forester Program (Forestry Division and N. H. Extensive Service) we are providing free a limited forest manage ment advisory service aimed to develop interest and provide encourage ment to small woodlot owners; (6) we propose to carry out a limited school education program at elementary and high school levels to create and develop an early interest in our forest resources among our next generation of woodlot owners. Appropriated Funds: Now and Ten Years Ago The following table compares the actual appropriations for the fiscal year 1951-52 with amounts requested for the fiscal year 1960-61. It will be noted that of the net increase 99.7 per cent is caused by personal services (salaries). This percentage figure should be quali fied by the observation that 14 positions of the 1951 department per sonnel roster were eliminated in a 10-year period, and 9½ new ones created. The addition of two new lookout watchman positions were by legislative acts in 1953 and 1957. The following table summarizes the budgets for the two biennial periods: 1951-52 1960-61 Difference Personal Services $154,966.40 $264,706.10 +$109,739.70 Current Expenses 39,991.00 34,451.00 — 5,540.00 Travel 9,200.00 14,755.00 — 5,555.00 Equipment 17,659.00 19,288.15 + 1,629.15 Other Expenses 5,500.00 4,200.00 — 1,300.00 Net Legislative Appropriation $148,843.40 $258,927.25 +$110,083.85 It should also be pointed out that the changes in Current Expenses and Travel accounts are due almost entirely to transfer of operating costs of passenger vehicles from Current Expense to Travel, a change in fiscal policy made in 1956. That no real increase (other than $15.00) appears in the travel account reflects effective economy in motor vehicle operation and maintenance since (1) costs have increased notably in these 10 years and (2) many more vehicles are now in operation. Expenditures for equipment increased 9% over the 10-year period or less than 2% per biennial budget period. During these 10 years the forestry radio network has grown from 12 units to 111; there are 25 more motor vehicles; many labor-saving devices and machines have been added at the State Forest Nursery, and replacement costs have risen for office equipment, forest fire hose, pumps and passenger vehicles. The following table shows the organization of the Forestry Division in 1951 and 1958. It should be noted that the “½” positions refer to 8 REPORT OF FORESTRY DIVISION cases where one-half the salary is paid from sources outside of the net legislative appropriation here considered. NUMBER OF CLASSIFIED POSITIONS IN THE FORESTRY DIVISION 1951 1955 ADMINISTRATION 1 State Forester Continued 1 Stats Forester 1 Assistant State Forester Eliminated % Chief, State Forest Operations ‘A Added ‘60-61 1 Chief, State Forest Operations ½ Continued and Town School-Forest Program ( % New) ‘/a Research Forester Continued ‘/a Research Forester 1 Chief Clerk Reclassified 1 Administrative Assistant II 2 Senior Clerk Stenographers Reclassified 2 Clerk Stenographers III 1 Junior Accountant Reclassified 1 Accountant II 1 Senior Clerk Reclassified 1 Fire Control Assistant Adm. 1 Statistical Clerk Reclassified 1 Account Clerk III 1 Clerk Stenographer II Continued 1 Clerk Stenographer II 2 Clerk Stenographers II Eliminated No position ‘/a Receptionist ‘60-61 ½ Receptionist (Now) FIRE CONTROL 1 Fire Control Assistant I Continued 1 Firs Control Assistant I 1 Fire Control Assistant II Continued 1 Fire Control Assistant II 1 Maintenance Mechanic Craftsman Reclassified 1 Maintenance Msclsaaic II 1 Maintenance Mechanic Craftsman Reclassified 1 Maintenance Mech, II (radio) 1 Maintenance Mechanic Craftsman Reclassified 1 Forestry Warehouse Manager 2 Lookout Maintenance Mechanics Reclassified 2 Forestry Maint. Mechanics 1 Lsokout Maintenance Mechanic Eliminated 1 Forest Ftre Dispatcher Eliminated 29 Lookout Watchman Continued and 2 added by Legislature 1953 and 1957 31 Lookout Watchmen (2 New) 5 District Fire Chiefs Continued and 5 new added 10 District Fire Chiefs (5 New) No position New position 1 Forest Fire Prevention and Training Officer (New) 5 District Fire Assistants Eliminated FORESTRY NURSERY 1 Assistant Stats Forester Reclassified 1 Chief, State Forest Nursery 1 Forestry Foreman Reclassified 1 Nursery Superintendent 3 Forestry Sub-Foremen Reclassified 3 Groundsmen 2 Caretakers Eliminated BLISTER RUST % State Blister Rnst Leader Reclassified 1 Blister Rust Leader and Fire Control Information and Edu cation Officer (½ New) 1% Blister Rust Scout Mappers Continued 3½ Blister Rust Scout Mappers 2 Blister Rust-District Firs Assistants Eliminated 73 fifi 5/, REPORT OF FORESTRY DIVISION 9 Planning Future Service and Savings County Forester Program. Two additional county foresters are urgently needed to provide one for each county, and the Forestry Division should share the cost of these under the cooperative arrange ment now in force. The work load of county foresters is increasing annually; it is the only program of its type that provides a limited assistance to small woodlot owners at the grass-roots level free of cost. It is a major influence in promoting better forestry on private land. Pilot School Forest Education Project. The “Smokey-the-Bear” Program in which our Forest Fire Prevention and Training Officer, James Q. Ricard, has addressed schools and youth groups has resulted in over 22,000 “Junior Forest Fire Rangers” receiving badges and study kits. In view of this success in working with school children, it is evident that one of the best places in which to sell forestry is in the schools. This supplements the work of the county foresters in making personal contacts with owners in the field. Teaching forestry in school together with the establishment of school forests as outdoor workshops will have both a short and long range effect upon private forest management. Smokey-the-Bear fire prevention lessons taught school children are readily transmitted to parents who then under stand and take greater interest in our fire prevention efforts. This is a short range benefit in fire prevention.