FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 32 1 



Of the 79,653 acres comprising the burned areas, 4,774 acres — less than six per 

 cent — belonged to the State. 



In addition to the damages to standing timber and young growth, estimated here 

 at $86,293, there was a further loss in fences, barns, buildings, logs, pulpwood, and 

 cordwood, amounting to $16,883. 



The aggregate number of days worked at these fires, as reported by the fire- 

 wardens, was : 



Firewardens, 1,736^ days, at $2.50, - -".-.-- $4,34-1 87 



Men, 18,562^ days at 2.00, ... - 37,125 5° 



Teams, 55 days at 3.50, 192 50 



Total wages paid, ------ $41,659 87 



1898 



1899 



9,118 



79,653 



$7,030 



$86,893 



94 



316 



That the increase in the number of fires, and consequent losses, in 1899, was due 

 largely to the excessive drought that season, is evident on comparing the returns 

 with those of the previous year. 



Number of acres burned over, ... 



Damage to standing timber, ----- 

 Number of different fires, - 



CAUSES OF FIRES, 1899. 



Clearing land or burning fallows, -.-'.- - - - - 40 



Railroad locomotives, -----,---- 27 



Incendiaries or careless persons, ------- 29 



Hunters, -.-.--.-' 25 



Fishermen, - - - . - - • - - - - - 12 



Camp fires, ------ ------ 17 



Berry pickers, ----------- 14 



Tobacco smokers; matches, -------- n 



Lightning, - - - - - - * 10 



Burning house, -.-..-.--. 2 



Picnic party, ----------- 1 



Insect smudge, ---------- 1 



River drivers, ----------- 1 



Children, ----------- 1 



Burning garbage, ---------- 1 



Unknown or not reported, 124 



316 



The foregoing tables include only such fires as showed a burned area of ten acres 

 or more. In addition there were a very large number of small ones that were extin- 

 21 



