TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 37 



The woi'king out of an effective system of fire protection is obviously 

 not a matter for paper elucidation, but for the exercise of sound judg- 

 ment by some responsible and competent authority, backed up by the 

 law. The machinery provided by the present law, aided by the amend- 

 ments and additions suggested in the draft o^f a fire law accompanying 

 this report, will be ample, if placed in the proper hands for execution, 

 with provision for the money necessary for so extensive a service. 



EfQcient organization also requires division into districts not too large 

 for practical handling of the territory included. There should be at 

 least twenty-five districts, each with a deputy at its head and with a 

 sufficient number of local wardens serving temporarily only in danger- 

 ous seasons of the year or special periods of danger, as above suggested. 

 At the head of all should be one responsible, active man, having both 

 the expert knowledge and the ability to organize and administer, which 

 is essential to the successful working of any machinery of this kind. 

 This requires money for employment of the many helpers necessary, and 

 the elimination of politics in their appointment. 



CONCENTRATION OP PUBLIC LANDS, FORESTS AND AFFAIRS OF RURAL POLICE^ 

 ETC., IN A PUBLIC DOMAIN COMMISSION. 



The handling of the fire question demands, in a large degree, expert 

 knowledge and experience. Without it, more money can easily be waste- 

 fully spent than will be necessary for the installing and maintenance 

 of an effective system of fire protection under the guidance of men 

 qualified by experience and knowledge for the task. 



The duties which must be performed in the interest of the State in 

 connection with State forest reserves, with the fire problem, with the 

 protection from trespass of the public lands, with the enforcement of 

 game and fish laws, and in other like directions, are in substance rural 

 police duties, or their performance is analagous thereto, and may be 

 performed by one force of men. Such a concentration of duties is in the 

 interest of economy and effectiveness. But neither effective nor econom- 

 ical results can be expected where there are several ultimate fountains 

 of authority. The force whose tenure of office depends upon the game 

 warden, can not be expected to render the best service in the way of 

 fire protection for State forest lands under another jurisdiction. 



To place the duties of trespass agents on the persons whose duty is 

 to look after forest fires or breakers of game laws would result in 

 economy, if there were but one source of authority over all ; but, under 

 the divided authority of the present system, such a concentration would 

 lead to friction, clashing and jealousies, destructive of effectiveness of 

 service. The duties of fire wardens, of trespass agents, of game and fish 

 wardens, are chiefly police duties, and of a nature so kindred that it is 

 obvious that economy and effectiveness will be much promoted by their 

 concentration in one" force of men, under one controlling administrative 

 head. 



We believe, therefore, that the interests of the State affecting the pub- 

 lic domain and natural resources should be brought under one depart- 

 ment, to be administered by a commission having general charge, and 

 sub-departmental heads having charge of the routine of administration. 

 These several heads of sub-departments should, as far as the constitution 



