FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 1 89 



Forest Preserve 



The duties of this office in regard to the Forest Preserves, under the 

 restrictions imposed by the State Constitution, are neither so varied nor 

 so important as might be looked for. The work in fact amounts practically, 

 merely to the protection of the State's property. 



The Forest Preserve is protected from fire by the same means as other 

 land in the Forest Preserve counties, and these means have already been 

 dealt with. Trespass matters usually come in first to this office in the shape 

 of a report from a game protector or patrolman. A survey of the lines 

 of the lot trespassed on is then often made, the number of trees cut are 

 counted, frequently by an inspector, and then the case is turned over to 

 the Legal Department for prosecution or settlement. Most trespasses are 

 small in amount ; frequently they are unintentional ; sometimes they appear 

 to be brought about by the blind condition of the lines. 



It has been the effort of this office during the past season to keep a 

 systematic watch on the State's property, using for the purpose, as far as 

 may be, the increased force of men supplied by the fire patrol. Further 

 than that the ambition is strongly held to put the property lines of the 

 State in first class order. This work, if thoroughly done will occupy several 

 years' time and require special appropriation; but the money required, 

 it will be clear to everyone acquainted with the administration of forest 

 lands at large, and the situation of the Forest Preserve in particular, will 

 be very profitably invested. At the same time the basis of maps required 

 for future demonstration purposes will be assembling. 



The limitations in other directions imposed by section 7, article 7 of 

 the State Constitution, have been much discussed in various quarters, 

 but not too much perhaps from the office of the Superintendent of Forests, 

 and the point of view of the technical forester. The trained foresters of 

 to-day are different men, with different purposes and ideas, from those 

 who represented this interest publicly years ago. In their view, use is 

 the whole purpose of the forest. It is use, in the fullest, broadest and most 

 far-sighted way obtainable, upon which they insist. True, there are other 

 utilities attached to the forest than merely the production of timber; but 



