274 



A. By the forest commission. 



Q. Who recommended any particular one or any number ? 



A. Well, now, I can't tell you any more than, for instance, Mr. 

 Houck, who just died, I myself recommended. 



Q. You were familiar with his capacity to perform his duty ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What acquaintance did ne have with the forest to warrant his 

 appointment ? 



A. He was a resident, and he had been what they call a log meas- 

 urer ; that is, a man who goes around and, measures logs as a business 

 for any company that wants him. 



Q. He was appointed upon your recommendation ? 



A. Yes, sir, 



Q. You felt that he was competent to perform the duty ? 



A. Yes, sir; he was thoroughly competent. 



Qi Do you know who recommended any of the other foresters ? 



A. I don't know as I do. 



Q. You, as warden, are of the opinion that they were all competent ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. That is, that they perform their duty satisfactorily 3 



A. Yes, sir; fairly well. 



Q. What was the system you had for finding out how they per- 

 formed their duty; how did they report to you ? 



A. They make the reports ordinarily every week ; we have bushels 

 of them in the office; these foresters for two years back were 

 describing the State lands, giving the topography of each lot by 

 its»K, and what portion was forest and what portion was denuded, etc. 



Q. Do you mean to say that there has been no dissatisfaction with 

 the foresters in the performance of their duty by ' the commission or 

 by people who are interested in seeing the forest preserved ? 



A. No, I don't know that we have any complaint from outside people 

 against the foresters; it is fair to state that the foresters get forty 

 dollars a month and no expenses, unless it is a very special case, 

 where it is a very expensive trip; it is hardly fair to expect they would 

 be on continuous duty. 



Q. When the commission talked about purchasing land, did you 

 hear any person state whether lands could be purchased and 

 purchased cheaply for the purpose of comprising the park — are you 

 of the opinion that land could have been had easily and at a moderate 

 rate? 



A. No, sir; I never heard so; I know it is not so; if you want me to, 

 I will tell you what I know about it; the forest commission directed 



