356 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



in 1895, when an amalgamation of fisheries and game interests with the forestry 

 interests was provided and the (five) Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests 

 were installed. The realization that the forest interests are decidedly more important 

 than the other two interests has lately led to the change of name by which "forests" 

 are first mentioned in the title of the Commission. 



Whether by the consolidation any benefit has come to the forest policy is doubtful, 

 although it would have been advantageous if the consolidation had been more in 

 substance than in name. It would, for instance, have been advantageous to combine 

 the functions of protecting fish and game and protecting the forest property in the 

 same officers ; especially within the forest preserve such arrangement would be 

 only logical. 



It has been suggested that the change from a five-headed commission to a single- 

 headed one would insure greater efficiency. Theoretically, such a single-headed 

 administration may be commendable provided a man of unusual capacity, broad- 

 mindedness and experience is put in the place, just as the wise and moderate tyrant 

 or king is said to represent the most beneficent government. With our democratic 

 principles of government, however, it would appear that wherever public policy, not 

 single will, is to be administered, a judicious council representing varied interests would 

 be more apt to give satisfaction, provided that it relies for executive work on expert 

 advice and assistance and on single responsibility of its executive officers. In the end 

 the question of the personnel of the commission, rather than the number, is the 

 important one, and still more important, the organization under the Commission and 

 the objects to be attained through that organization. 



The first object of the administration, naturally, must be protection of the property; 

 and that means, with forest property, mainly against the dangers from fire. This is 

 the first and foremost administrative problem. The only way to furnish that pro- 

 tection is by proper organization of the fire service, and by reducing the causes of 

 forest fires. 



Forest Fire Problems. 



Forest fires in the Adirondacks are of very varying character, according to the 

 condition of the ground on which the fire occurs. In the openings, in the slashes, in 

 the sandy fiats which used to be occupied by pines and which were burned over 

 repeatedly after the lumberman had made the debris, on the rocky shores of lakes 

 which the hunter's camp fire has wasted again and again, the fires run fiercely, fanned 

 by the winds that have access here, burning up the young growth which is trying to 

 establish itself. As a rule, when a fire breaks out in these wastes, it burns at least the 

 entire area that had been burned over before, and also gradually eats into the hitherto 



