2S0 



BOARD OF AGRICULTrRE. [Pul). Doc. 



tion. The reports that have come to this office this fall show that we have 

 had 6S5 fires from this source during the summer, and yet the department 

 was unable to have an inspection of the locomotives made and the cause 

 of the fires remedied, owing to the lack of reports at the time of the fire. 

 This is a very essential feature, and we shall be obliged to insist that these 

 reports be forwarded promptly. 



In studying the tables of causes of forest fires for the past three years 

 we note some very interesting data, as well as substantial improvement 

 along different lines. The "unknown" cause has the largest percentage, 

 it being 44.5. This is owing, in a great measure, to insufficient care being 

 taken to ascertain the exact cause. This we shall endeavor to remedy to 

 a large extent the coming season. Railroad fires show a reduction of 

 practically 2 per cent, over 1910 and nearly 8 per cent, over 1909, which 

 is certainly an improvement, taking into consideration the extremely 

 dry season. "Burning brush" fires have been reduced from 16.2 per cent. 

 in 1910 to 5.3 per cent, this year. This is, in a large measure, due to the 

 permit law enacted during the last Legislature, which is giving general 

 satisfaction and should be made uniform throughout the State. " Smokers, 

 hunters and berry pickers" fires show a decided decrease over former 

 years. The same is true of " Steam sawmills " and " Children " fires. " Mis- 

 cellaneous" fires show an increase over 1910, but a decrease over 1909. 



The table of forest fires for 1911-shows 2,536 fires, an increase of 1,151 

 fires over 1910, with the enormous damage of $537,749, burning over 

 nearly 100,000 acres, with a cost to extinguish of $47,093. The most 

 severe fires occurred in the months of April and May during the severe 

 drought. 



Comparative Damages by Forest Fires for the Past Three Years. 



