CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 13 



fires have spread more or less for several years, and going off the reservation west- 

 erly. This fire occurred between the ist and loth of November, continuing three 

 or four days and nights, during which time the weather was dty, until frosty nights 

 seemed to extinguish it. As to the area of land burned over, it is difiScult to judge 

 — perhaps 2,000 acres or more. As to damage, it is difficult to estimate, but the 

 damage was nominal, as it was mostly prairie grass. No means of ascertaining 

 how or by whom the fire started. No particular precautions seem to have been 

 taken, as much of this territory is not inhabited. I went to the locality personally. 

 Nobody seemed to know much about it, regarding it of not much note. Even the 

 agent did not seem to be acquainted with the fact that there had been a fire, from 

 the fact, perhaps, that he was away from home about that time. The country be- 

 tween Detroit and the agency is for about twelve miles — to the edge of the reserva- 

 tion — timber land, somewhat rolling; from there to agency, twelve miles farther, 

 prairie, interspersed with hazel bushes and light timber groves. Northwest of 

 agency six to twelve miles farther, where the fire ran, mostly prairie and more 

 level. What timber there is between here and there is a mixture of hard and soft, 

 no pine or spruce. 



BENTON COUNTY. 



John B. Schuoler, chairman of the Town of Langola, October 7th: 



On the 13th of April, the weather being windy, a fire on section 27 burned over 

 200 acres of prairie and light timber; damage, $10. It was extinguished in eleven 

 hours after it started by hauling water and plowing fire breaks. If it had not been 

 checked in time it would have done damage to the amount of $900 on buildings. 



CHISAGO COUNTY. 



[Note. — The following fire, though actually occurring in the year 1900, never- 

 theless took place during an unusual spell of dry weather and when the ground was 

 bare; the offender was prosecuted and paid a fine of $15, together with $3.05 costs.] 



Fred Marty, chairman of the Town of Rusheba, Jan. 12, 1900: 



On the 8th of January (1900) between 2 and 3 o'clock p. m., a meadow fire 

 ■which originated on section 32, being land occupied by William Daw, burned upon 

 eighteen forties of meadow and brush and destroyed 300 tons of hay and one hay 

 press; damage, $2,000. It was caused by fire getting away while burning brush 

 and clearing land. It was extinguished in five hours after it started by the work 

 of twelve persons by beating it out with wet sacks, by the Cambridge wagon road, 

 and by a light shower in the evening. The weather was very windy; had been 

 dry all the fall. Light snow fell three weeks ago, but this melted about two weeks 

 ago. The day the fire occurred everything was very dry and the fire ran on the 

 short aftermath like fury. 



CLAY COUNTY. 



H. C. Jarr, chairman of the Town of Flowing, May 31st: 



April i6th, 8 p. m. , a prairie fire originating on vacant land in section 25 burned 

 over 800 acres. It was extinguished in twelve hours by two persons by pounding 

 with wet sacks. The weather was still and dry in the evening, but darnp from 

 frost towards morning. I am unable to get a clue as to who caused the fire; there 

 is no doubt but it was farelessly or wilfully set by someone, either a passer-by or a 



