5<> REPORT OK THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



65 per cent of all 1913 violations have been settled within the 

 year, a larger percentage than has ever been shown heretofore, 

 and to the fact that there remain so few unsettled cases from the 

 two preceding years. All but three of these last are of railroad 

 origin, the settlement of which is expected soon. 



The recorded number of purely technical violations of the 

 law, such as illegal backfiring or brush burning without a 

 permit though the fire did not escape, has increased from 

 seven in 1912 to thirteen this year. This indicates, not that the 

 number of such offenses has grown but, that the wardens are 

 more active in discovering them and less inclined to ignore 

 them when known. This promises for the future less needless 

 burning and, therefore, fewer opportunities for the escape of 

 fire. 



In most cases the penalty imposed is a fine ranging from a 

 nominal sum to fifty dollars. Only occasionally is it necessary 

 to resort to prosecution. There is the best of feeling between 

 public officials and the fire service. One vagrant who made and 

 was careless with a camp fire was jailed by the local authorities 

 through the activity of the local warden. In other instances 

 local police authorities have called upon the Fire Service for 

 help. A county prosecutor willingly undertook to prosecute one 

 aggravated case and to secure a prison penalty, which cannot 

 be done under the Forest Fire Law. These instances are cited, 

 not because of their individual importance but because they are 

 indicative of the public interest in forest fire control and of 

 confidence in the work of the Fire Service. 



A study of Tables X, XI and XII will indicate that the 

 violators are leniently dealt with. That is in accord with the 

 policy of the Forest Commission because most violations are 

 unintentional and because the results sought are not punitive 

 but corrective. The total amount of the penalties collected for 

 the year was $1,538.67. Of this $1,149.02 was paid by railroads 

 and $389.65 by other agencies. See note, p. 8. 



