24 FIRST ANNUAL BEPO&T OF THE 



commission of an expert engineer as Inspector of Docks and Dams 

 chanced to coincide closely with the disaster at Austin, Pa., an 

 object-lesson as to the danger attendant upon faulty construction 

 a danger whose gravity has been by no means adequately :ap- 

 predated. Among the first duties assigned to him by the com- 

 mission was the inspection of the Austin dam, and his report as 

 to the causes of its collapse, which was the earliest explanation 

 thereof, has been widely accepted as authoritative, and has been 

 fully corroborated by subsequent testimony. 



Between October 10 and November 30 last the commission 

 inspected and reported on no less than 46 dams in this State. 

 They were found generally in a neglected condition. Many of 

 the older type of wooden dams had been continued in use, which 

 were built when the country was unsettled and surrounding prop- 

 erty of slight value; others were poorly constructed earth dams. 

 But the old structures were not alone faulty. Five solid masonry 

 dams, in process of construction, were condemned. In all, 38 

 of the 46 dams were found defective ; in some cases entire rebuild- 

 ing, and in others, repairs, were recommended. The commission 

 is pleased to add that in every case its recommendations are being 

 cheerfully complied with. 



These investigations will be actively continued. The commis- 

 sion proposes to see to it that every old dam in the State is made 

 safe, that no new dam shall be constructed which is not safe. To 

 the end that adequate power in this regard may be vested in the 

 commission, we recommend that the -law be amended. 



LEGAL BUREAU. 



It is contemplated by the Conservation Law that all legal mat- 

 ters shall be carried on under the direct supervision of the com- 

 mission and its counsel at its main office. Heretofore local attor- 

 neys had been employed throughout the State at great expense, 

 with unsatisfactory results. Upon the organizing of the commis- 

 sion its counsel found that there were pending in the various 

 counties of the State upwards of 200 suits for injunctions, tres- 

 pass and penalties, many of the cases involving the question of the 

 State's title to large tracts of forest lands and the enforcement of 

 the laws intended to lessen the danger from forest fires. 



