CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 49 



The chairman has to inquire into the cause of each fire 

 without delay and immediately report the same to the 

 Chief Fire Warden with other facts. Fire warden service 

 is paid for in the first instance by the county commission- 

 ers, and the state afterwards pays the county two-thirds 

 of the amount. Besides, the law carries an annual appro- 

 priation of $5, ooo to enable the Chief Fire Warden to 

 prevent or suppress forest and prairie fires, "during a 

 dry and dangerous season, when forest and prairie fires 

 are prevailing or are liable to break out"; also an annual 

 appropriation of $1,000 to enable him to ferret out and 

 prosecute violations of the law where local authorities 

 neglect to prosecute them. This is but a short summary of 

 the law, which was strengthened by twelve amendments 

 enacted by the last legislature, and which were printed in 

 full in my previous report. 



I think the principal weakness of our Minnesota system 

 has been the uncertainty of pay for fire warden service. 

 In a few counties the commissioners have in previous 

 years arbitrarily refused to pay for any service. In other 

 counties fire wardens have been humiliated by having 

 accounts that were already small unreasonably cut down. 

 I must say that the service has been considerably im- 

 paired by the illiberal action of county commissioners. 

 I have heard quite able and experienced men say that it 

 would be better if the state were to pay the whole ex- 

 pense. However, the tendency appears to be towards 

 more considerate action by county commissioners, and 

 now that the state pays two-thirds of the expense I think 

 it may be hoped that the fire wardens will be promptly 

 and fairly paid for their services. Anyhow the new pro- 

 vision of law should have a fair trial. 



