FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 30I 



always stands. The original owner of the land is forced to apply to the courts for 

 redress, thereby involving an expense which, too often, the value of these wild lands 

 will not warrant. In view of the number of lots appearing on the land list of the 

 Forest Preserve in which the State's title is of doubtful character, some legislation is 

 necessary to amend and correct the schedule. But the work of selecting these lots 

 and determining the facts as to whether the State's title to a lot is a valid one, would 

 require the services of persons thoroughly familiar with the character of tax titles, the 

 nature of a legal occupancy, and the general history of each case. The State Comp- 

 troller, Hon. James A. Roberts, in his last report, dated January 1 1, 1899, says, in 

 relation to these complications : 



" It has been reported to this office that a number of parcels of land in the Forest Preserve 

 are occupied by people claiming to be the fee-owners thereof. These lands, it is alleged, have 

 been assessed both as resident and non-resident lands, and the taxes levied on the resident 

 assessments duly paid. In such cases the State's title seems likely to remain in dispute and 

 doubt until an investigation shall disclose the exact condition. If it is deemed advisable to have 

 this important matter investigated, a small appropriation to defray the expenses of the persons 

 appointed therefor should be made, and a reference of the matter made to some department with 

 power to act." 



I would respectfully ask that the recommendation of the Comptroller in this 

 matter receive thoughtful consideration, and that the necessary legislation be granted. 

 It would seem advisable to enact some law authorizing the proper department to 

 report a Bill of Relief, under which legislative authority shall be granted to erase from 

 the schedule of lands in the Forest Preserve any lots or parcels that may not properly 

 belong there, such lots being specified distinctly in the act. The preparation of the 

 list of lands to be thus released might be intrusted to the Comptroller's office ; or, the 

 work might be done through the services of experts, of whom one might be detailed 

 from the Comptroller's office, one from the office of the Fisheries, Game and Forest 

 Commission, and one from the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, these officials 

 to receive proper compensation for the additional work thus required of them. The 

 assistance of the Attorney-General's office might be needed, also, in furnishing opinions 

 on questions arising from the discussion of disputed titles. 



Although, in the management of the Forest Preserve the last year, the forest fires 

 have been less in number and in area than at any like period since the establishment 

 of the Forestry Department, we believe that the damage from this source can, under 

 proper arrangement, be still further minimized, and, perhaps, entirely prevented. To 

 this end a more compact and systematic organization of the corps of firewardens is 

 necessary. The various duties of the Superintendent of Forests will not permit him to 

 give the attention to this branch of the service which he would like, and which the safety 

 of the forest demands. I would suggest the appointment of an assistant, who shall 



