48 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



payment of fire warden expenses unless the money were 

 specifically raised for the purpose. To raise money for 

 such purpose would require a vote at the annual town 

 meeting and the proposition might fail just in the towns 

 where the money was most needed. 



The Minnesota system makes the State Auditor Forest 

 Commissioner and authorizes him to appoint a Chief Fire 

 Warden to represent his authority. Supervisors of towns, 

 mayors of cities and presidents of village councils are con- 

 stituted fire wardens. Chapter 64 of the laws of 1903 

 changes the manner of electing supervisors, so that after 

 three years from now each will hold his office for three 

 years instead of one year as heretofore. The act pro- 

 vides that "there shall be elected in the year 1904, at the 

 annual town meeting in each town, three supervisors, one 

 of whom shall be elected for three years, one for two 

 years and one for one year, so that one shall go out 

 each year. At each annual town 



meeting thereafter one supervisor shall be elected for 

 three years to fill the place of the one whose term expires 

 at that time. " This law secures increased experience in 

 the supervisors, and of course should make them more 

 efficient as fire wardens. 



In unorganized territory the Chief Fire Warden 

 appoints necessary fire wardens, and he may appoint 

 needed fire wardens in any organized town. In brief, the 

 fire wardens are to take precautions to prevent fires, post 

 notices, warn those whom they think are liable to be care- 

 less, patrol or cause to be patrolled their districts in danger- 

 ous weather, go to and extinguish forest or prairie fires 

 when they occur, and they have power to call to their assist- 

 ance any able-bodied male person over 18 years of age. 

 They are to make complaint before a justice of the peace 

 against anyone carelessly causing a fire where they have 

 information of facts that will probably sustain the same. 



