296 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



In Michigan the State Game and Fish Warden has charge of the prevention 

 and suppression of forest fires. Michigan's forest law provides for a commis- 

 sion known as the Public Domain Commission. This commission has control of 

 public lands, State forest reserves, and all interests of the State in connection 

 with stream protection and control. 



The State Forest Fire Warden, who is also Game and Fish Warden, is 

 answerable Jo the commission. Supervisors of townships are constituted fire 

 wardens of their respective towns. Counties may be divided into suitable dis- 

 tricts by the State Warden and a deputy warden appointed for each district. 

 Deputy wardens or township fire wardens in case of fire may employ men to 

 extinguish it. The total amount which the State Warden may expend during 

 dry and dangerous seasons for fire prevention or suppression is placed at $10,000. 

 Fire wardens receive $2 per day for actual services rendered, two-thirds of this 

 being paid by the municipality where the service is performed. It is also specified 

 that no fire warden shall be paid in one year for more than 15 days for services 

 of any character. 



The Public Domain Commission, up to the close of 1910, had established 

 State forests aggregating 277,000 acres and were then preparing to establish 

 further areas of this kind. These forests are established from lands coming to 

 the State through non-payment of taxes. 



Though the State of Michigan is (loul)llcss doing more at present than ever 

 before to prevent destruction of timber through fire, it is evident that she is far 

 behind the nearby State of Minnesota in the character and effectiveness of her 

 forest laws. 



No warden system made up largely of town or other officials can be expected 

 to give the maximum of efficiency in fire protection. Nor can the best results 

 be secured by having the fish and game warden, no doubt largely occupied with 

 his principal duties, also responsible for forest protection work. Particularly is 

 this true in a State where so many fires occur. 



Michigan can well afford to revise her forest laws, and in so doing follow the 

 good example set by Minnesota. 



MINNESOTA 



MINNESOTA has forested area of 28,000,000 acres, the largest of any 

 State east of the Rocky Mountains. 

 These forests extend for more than 300 miles along the northern 

 boundary of the State and for 364 miles north and south. Being composed of a 

 high per cent of valuable species, Minnesota's 70 billion feet of merchantable tim- 

 ber is conservatively estimated to be worth $280,000,000. 



As has been the case in most other States, it required a series of disastrous 

 fires to arouse popular opinion to the need of organized protection of the timber. 

 In 1895, the year following the Hinckley fire, a chief fire warden was appointed 

 and under his leadership steady progress was made in securing legislation for 

 forest protection. It was not, however, until after the great Baudette fire of 

 1910, that an efifective State department was established. 



