No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 521 



DR. GEOFF. — Mr. Peters' views in many particulars correspond 

 with my own. If we could imprison the men who start fires it 

 would be a great gain. In addition to the causes of fires already 

 mentioned, the material left in the forests by lumbermen is a very 

 important factor. As to the system of rebates allowed by law, it 

 is not so much unconstitutional as impracticable. The deficiencies 

 occasioned by such rebates must be met by additional taxes on 

 other property. This work of replenishing our forests has just 

 been begun, and is one of our most important problems. 



MR. STOUT. — My county is covered with immense areas of forest 

 and no attention is paid to the extinguishing of fires. 



MR. BRIDGES. — No one is more interested than we who are en- 

 gaged in fruit culture and have large fruit interests. 



MR. WILLIAMS. — I am delighted to hear this discussion, and 

 am pleased to see the interest that is manifested in the forestry 

 question. 



I have been convinced that constables as a rule are inefficient fire 

 wardens and are not to be depended upon. I know that one-half of 

 our forest fires are started by railroad engines. The remedy lies 

 with the Legislature, and if the people will pay the bill, the Depart- 

 ment will see that the fire question is met by putting a man on every 

 square mile of forest. The Governor's message recommended that 

 for a distance of 100 feet on each side of the tracks, railroad com- 

 panies should be required to extinguish all fires. We have about 

 fifty men for 600,000 acres, a force manifestly inadequate. 



MR. CHASE. — I think that no one present is more heavily taxed 

 or harder hit by forest fires than the President of this Association. 

 We have many fires in my district in the northeastern part of the 

 State, and the section hands are not as careful as they should be. 

 A large per cent, of the people there depend upon the huckleberry 

 crop, and it is their object to burn over our forests about every three 

 3'ears. Over and above all we must try to educate our people that 

 it is their interest to protect our forests. 



On motion of Mr. Creasy, the Chair was authorized to appoint a 

 committee of three to draft some plan of procedure to present to 

 the Legislature in reference to this question. 



Messrs. Creasy, McSparran and Chase were appointed. 

 The following committees were announced: 



DECEASED MEMBERS. 



W. H. Moon, S. Morris Jones, James Krewson. 



LEGISLATION AND ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS. 



Gabriel Hiester, Chairman; Earl Peters, John G. Rush, H, A. Sur- 

 face, Howard A. Chase, Enos B. Engle. 



The following paper was read: 



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