CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 109 



cording to the size of timber that is to be grown, viz., high 

 forest, under-growth and coppice. 



In accordance with the terms of the federal law, the 

 forest area cannot be reduced. The cleared land must 

 consequently be reforested except in cases where an equal 

 area of land is covered into forest. Furthermore, the 

 cantons as well as the Confederation have the right to 

 compel the creation of protective forests wherever they are 

 needed for public utility. 



Forest fires seldom occur. Of those which do occur the 

 principal causes are carelessness in lighting fires in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of the forests, and lack of care in the 

 woods. It is rare that a forest fire is occasioned by loco- 

 motives. 



The administration charged to execute the federal for- 

 est law is the Federal Inspectorate of Forests, forming a 

 part of the Swiss federal department of the interior. Near- 

 ly all the cantons have for their territories a forest admin- 

 istration. In the small states one single technical official 

 is at the head of the service, but in the larger cantons the 

 administration is under the direction of one or more chief 

 forest inspectors or chiefs of the service and of several dis- 

 trict foresters or forest inspectors. An inferior personnel 

 instructed for the federal zone in courses lasting two 

 months is attached to this technical personnel, and is or- 

 ganized to execute the work of forest economy. 



A few cities or towns with extended and important 

 forests have also a self forest administration, at the head 

 of which is a person of technical forest training. Among 

 them are Zurich, Berne, Lausanne, St. Gall, Winter- 

 hue, Friburg, Coire, Soleure, Schaffhouse. 



The Chief Federal Inspector of Forests has an annual 

 salary of 8,000 francs and fees of eight francs per day, 

 and eight francs per night, when he has to be absent, for 

 his service; he gets his traveling expenses reimbursed, 



