FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 



Chief Fire Warden 



OK MINNESOTA. 



Reports by postal card received from 233 Fire Wardens 

 under date of September i, showed that up to that time 

 the season of 1899 had generally been wet and favorable 

 for the prevention of forest and prairie fires. In several 

 localities in the western and northwestern parts of the 

 state, however, there had been dangerous dry weather in 

 May and in the latter part of August. The number of 

 forest fires reported was only ten. Number of acres 

 burned over, 3,635; damage, 11,541. 



Number of prairie fires reported, thirty -four; acres 

 burned over, 24,616; damage, #4,856. 



The chairmen of town boards and fire wardens in un- 

 organized territory were all supplied with blanks on which 

 to report fires and with stamped return envelopes; were 

 urged to be particular and report every fire ; and the law 

 allows them a fee for reporting a fire; it is made their 

 duty under a penalty to report all forest and prairie fires. 

 But there is always a percentage of town officers who are 

 neglectful of duty, and it may be assumed that some 



