FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 5 



can tell when a season like that preceding the Hinckley 

 calamity, September i, 1894, may occur, and too much 

 care cannot be observed in regard to fires in dangerous 

 localities in seasons of drought. A small fire, if left to 

 smoulder and burn, might in a very dry period, with a 

 terrific gale of wind, cause a great calamity. The only 

 safe way in case of such fire is, if a warden in whose dis- 

 trict it occurs cannot entirely extinguish it, to summon 

 assistance and make such a break around it that it cannot 

 spread. It must not be neglected. The law is explicit 

 in making it the duty of a warden to ' 'go to the place of 

 danger, " to control fires and to prevent fires. 



Wardens have other pubhc duties, but none of their 

 duties is more respectable than that of saving their dis- 

 tricts from a catastrophe that is liable from forest and 

 prairie fires. If such catastrophe should occur through 

 their neglect, it would be a lasting discredit to their 

 memory; on the other hand, where their vigilance results 

 in the preservation of life and property in their com- 

 munities, they deserve public gratitude. 



