FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 53 



fighting has confined the burned area to 47 acres per fire. The average 

 loss in each forest preserve town this year is only $5.76. Last year it was 

 $4,915.77 per town. 



New system 

 1909. With 

 Old system 1908. 281 towns; more 

 With only 131 than twice as 



towns. much territory. 



Loss $644,000 $25,101 



Acres burned 177, 000 11,967 



Fires 700 2 50 



Increase in efficiency based on number of fires 180% 



Increase in efficiency based on number of acres burned 1 ,303% 



Considering the much larger territory to watch and protect, the small 

 total acreage and number of fires are very significant. 



The actual result has to some extent been affected by different weather 

 conditions in the two years. Owing to the observation stations and a 

 paid fire fighting force this year the fires were gotten at immediately and 

 extinguished, in nearly every case, quickly. They were not allowed to 

 gather headway and burn large areas. On the other hand, it has not been 

 as dry as last year, yet fires burned much later this year than last. Many 

 times, if the old system had been in use, large conflagrations would have 

 ensued. The point is to get at the fire when it starts. 



Total Money Expended. 



There has been expended during 1909, up to and including November 

 5th, $40,175.41. This expenditure was divided as follows: 



Salaries of superintendents and patrolmen $15,224 57 



Expenses of above-named emplovees 8 , 407 46 



Office expenses 1 , 199 72 



Permanent telephone construction and mountain observation 



stations 5 , 958 46 



Tools 83 7 19 



Special work, making trails 135 48 



Pay and keeping of laborers and others actually fighting fire . . 8 , 412 53 



175 4i 



