In the District No. 2 a number of smaller fires were 

 promptly extinguished by Ranger Emery and only 

 one fire covered a considerable area and required extra 

 help in fighting it. Fortunately rain set in the end of 

 April and put an end to this danger. 



The summer and fall of this year (1905) were wet 

 and therefore practically without any tribulations 

 from fire. 



As suggested in plans formerly submitted, it is the 

 intention to extend the series of fire lines, thus far 

 merely begun and thereby make the matter of fire 

 patrol easier and more effective. 



The protection of the Reserves against fire and still 

 more against trespass emphasize the need of a survey 

 and a clear demarcation of boundary lines and monu- 

 ments. A fire may cover twenty acres of land, but it 

 is impossible for the ranger to know whether the fire is 

 on Reserve lands or not, and in order that he may 

 properly report the fire it is necessary that he should 

 spend no inconsiderable amount of time (exceedingly 

 precious just about this time) to "locate" this twenty 

 acres. In many cases where the lines and section cor- 

 ners have practically disappeared, this location with 

 ordinary compass is impossible for untrained men and 

 the report must remain uncertain, unreliable and use- 

 less. 



With regard to trespass, it was hoped that a regular 

 patrol of rangers would entirely eliminate this mis- 

 chief, something very much to be desired, for a better 

 understanding and relation between the Forest Re- 

 serve and the surrounding people. 



As matters stand it is fair to say that seven of the 

 eleven cases thus far experienced were directly due to 

 a lack of demarcation of the lands, and were error 

 rather than bad intention and even those cases where 

 evil intent was evident would, in all probability, not 

 have happened had the lands been clearly marked. 



Of the six cases which happened within the year, 

 only one was of a serious nature, involving the de- 

 struction of a considerable amount of thrifty, live 

 timber, and this case is now before the court for de- 

 cision. The other five cases involved but few trees 

 each and in not case led to the destruction of any 

 young growth or valuable green timber. 



In this connection it seems proper to mention the 

 change of sentiment and attitude of the people about 

 the Reserves and to acknowledge the helpful spirit 

 with which they have assisted in the matter of pro- 

 tection, notably the protection against fires. Men 

 who at first bitterly opposed the creation of these Re- 

 serves have helped for days and free of charge in 

 preventing and fighting fires. Town officials and other 

 representative citizens speak their approval of the 

 protective work of the Commission and have offered 

 their help. Much of this change for the better in atti- 

 tude and sentiment is undoubtedly due to a better 

 understanding of the real objects and methods of the 

 Reserves; but much also is due to the fact that, at 

 last, the State of Michigan itself appears to care some- 

 thing about this matter. As long as the State did not 

 see fit to even examine the lands and learn what it 

 had, as long as these lands were a sort of football to 

 be kicked about any way at all, as long as no value 

 was placed on the land nor the cover of woods, so 

 long the people could not help but think these lands 

 valueless. And years of this kind of carelessness on 

 the part of the State have developed and fixed a very 

 serious state of mind among the people of our north 

 counties, a feeling which sanctions fire and trespass, 

 much to the detriment not only of the property of the 

 State but also of private owners. In a district where 

 State woods are a proper thing to burn and plunder, 



