28 annual report of 



Pennsylvania's system. 



In Pennsylvania the constables are made fire wardens. 

 The "towns there first pay the expense and the state pays 

 one-half. There is a Forestry Commissioner and a For- 

 estry Reservation Commission, of which the Forestry 

 Commissioner is President, that is authorized to purchase 

 any suitable land for forest preservation at not exceeding 

 $5 per acre. 



Some other states have constituted town supervisors 

 fire wardens, but, not having an official to supervise the 

 work, the systems have been practically in abeyance. 



Minnesota's system. 



Our Minnesota system makes town supervisors fire war- 

 dens. Such officers are generally men of some influence 

 in their town. They travel through the town on town 

 business, and, although by the annual elections they are 

 frequently changed, yet the system is better than we 

 could expect unless the state paid for fire warden service 

 much more than it now does. 



Under the present law our fire wardens must post 

 warning notices, take precautions to prevent fires, which 

 naturally includes the warning of people likely to be care- 

 less; when a fire occurs to call help — every able-bodied 

 male eighteen years of age and upward is liable to be 

 called — and extinguish it. Fire wardens are paid |2 a 

 day for services when rendered but for not exceeding fif- 

 teen days in the year. 



The county commissioners have to audit fire warden 

 accounts. The county pays for the service and the state, 

 by the law as now amended, repays the county two-thirds 

 of the amount. Some counties have heretofore been 

 backward in paying fire wardens for their services, but it 

 is believed it will lead to more certainty of pay for the 

 state to pay two-thirds of the expense. Efficient service 

 cannot be expected where there is no pay. 



