REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FORESTS. 



Hon. Charles H. Jackson, Deputy Commissioner, Division of 

 Lands and Forests, Conservation Commission, 



Sir. — I respectfully submit the following report, for the year 

 1911, of the work conducted by the Forestry Bureau of the former 

 Forest, Fish and Game Commission and that of Forests in the 

 Division of Lands and Forests of the present Conservation Com- 

 mission. 



INTRODUCTION, 



The work of the former Forestry Department and the present 

 Bureau of Forestry includes the enforcement of the forest fire law 

 and protection of forests from fire within the central portions of the 

 forest preserve counties ; securing and compiling statistics showing 

 the annual forest product ; the operation of nurseries for the pro- 

 duction of planting stock, reforesting State lands and sale of trees 

 to private owners ; administration of State lands and their protec- 

 tion from trespass; co-operating with and advising private land- 

 owners in regard to the management of their woodlands ; examina- 

 tions of lands of various State institutions and reports thereon 

 to boards of managers ; study of various tree diseases ; conducting 

 various forest studies; also educational and extension work, in- 

 cluding lectures and preparation of pamphlets. 



FOREST FIRES. 



The present duties of the Commission in regard to forest fires 

 are confined to the prevention and extinguishing of fires within 

 the wooded areas of ninety-six towns in the central portions of 

 the sixteen forest preserve counties and the enforcement of laws 

 relative to railroads that operate in those counties. 



Eeport of Fires During 1911. 

 There has occurred in this State the past spring and summer 

 a repetition of the severe droughts which we have had other years, 

 but fortunately the forest loss this year, due to the numerous fires 



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