366 Forestry Quarterly. 



all felled coniferous trees shall have their branches lopped, under 

 penalty of $2 for every tree not so trimmed, besides fine and im- 

 prisonment. 



The important portions of the law are in the direction of improv- 

 ing the protection against forest fires, increasing the machinery by 

 the appointment of fire inspectors to inspect engines and railroads, 

 and providing that the railroads operating in the forest preserve 

 counties shall maintain fire patrols. In these counties four fire 

 districts are established, with appointed superintendents of fire 

 at the head, who are to organize the fire patrols, fire stations, fire 

 signals, etc. 



There is one important provision, which will probably not be 

 enforced, because in its present form it is unmanageable, but which 

 shows that the restrictive European police measures which it was 

 once declared could never be enforced in this free country are at 

 least being recognized as probably after all necessary to reduce 

 the danger from forest fires. This section reads : 



"Whenever, by reason of drouth or other cause, it shall be 

 dangerous to the forests of the state, or for other reasons contrary 

 to the public interest, for any person or persons to enter any por- 

 tion of the lands within the forest preserve counties of the state 

 for the purpose of camping out or taking fish, fowl, birds or 

 quadrupeds therein, or for any person or persons being already 

 within the forest preserve counties of the state to take fish, fowl 

 or birds or quadrupeds therein, the Governor shall have authority 

 to determine, and shall determnie and declare that it is dangerous 

 to the forests of the State or contrary to the public interest for 

 any person or persons to enter any portion of the lands within the 

 forest preserve counties of the state for the purpose of camping 

 out or of taking fish, fowl, birds, or quadrupeds therein, or for any 

 person or persons being already within the forest preserve counties 

 of the state to take fish, fowl, birds, or quadrupeds therein, and 

 upon such determination and declaration, the Governor shall have 

 authority to forbid, and shall forbid by proclamation, any person or 

 persons from entering the said lands for such purposes, and any 

 person or persons being already therein from taking fish, fowl, 

 birds, or quadrupeds therein. But the Governor must state in 

 such proclamation the reason or reasons why he has so determined 

 that such acts would be dansrerous to the forests or contrary to 



