No. 4. J REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 309 



in that it gives the warden his proper credentials. The num- 

 ber of each badge is kept on file in this office, and thereby 

 any forest warden can be identified. The badges are the 

 property of the State Forester, and held by the wardens only 

 during their services as such. 



As alluded to elsewhere, warning forest-fire notices, made 

 of cloth, were supplied to all wardens in large numbers ; and 

 they and their deputies took great pains in seeing that these 

 were posted generally throughout the towns, and particularly 

 where there was slash remaining from cut-over lands, etc. 



During the very smoky times this ofiice was repeatedly 

 informed from the various wardens that they were exerting 

 themselves and keeping close watch, and even patrolling the 

 towns to minimize the great chances for fire outbreaks. No 

 one could expect a greater loyalty and interest than these 

 newly appointed forest wardens and their deputies have 

 shown, and the State Forester desires here to publicly ac- 

 knowledge their true worth and fidelity to the State. 



It is proposed to publish the data collected on forest fires 

 for the State in a bulletin by itself, a little later on. The 

 following table will be of interest, in showing to what extent 

 and number and of how great damage these fires have been 

 during the year. It may be said also that these fire esti- 

 mates may be considered extremely conservative. Can any 

 one doubt the needed rational legislation for handling such 

 a parasite upon our veritable future prosj^erity ? 



