REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



there were but 45 new appointees, a great gain in this respect 

 over past years. This means on the one hand that many of the 

 men find the work worth while and are willing to continue in it; 

 and on the other that they have been tried and found capable. 

 The larger number of changes made were effected to secure 

 for the wardenship men who lived on telephone lines. Despite 

 poor facilities in most of the larger forest areas, over 50 per 

 cent of those serving can now be reached by telephone. This 

 course has still further added to the effectiveness of the local 

 organization by inducing increased promptness in reaching 

 fires. In many instances, the telephone has also curtailed ex- 

 pense by preventing the assembling of needlessly large forces 

 at small fires, or the attendance of several wardens at one fire. 



TABLE VI. SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRE BUSINESS 1913 WITH SOME 

 COMPARATIVE FIGURES FROM TWO YEARS PRECEDING. 



Both of these cases are awaiting appeal. 



* 5 cases dropped for lack of evidence ; 8 cases in which offenders left the 

 State and have not returned ; 46 cases in which R. R- claims were not 

 made because the township bills of costs were too tardy to permit their 

 presentation. 



U All but 37 of these were settled before March i, 1914. 



t See also Tables VIII and IX. 

 t Burned less than 5 acres. 



