26 Second Annual Repoet of the 



was formerly known as a superintendent of fires, but is now 

 known as a District Forest Ranger. The fire-fighting force under 

 these officials, formerly known as fire patrolmen, are now known 

 as Forest Rangers. It is believed that the new titles better ex- 

 press the duties actually performed by these officials. There is 

 also an auxiliary force, serving only in emergencies, under the 

 old law bearing the title of Special Fire Patrolmen, but now called 

 Fire Wardens. Under the new law the force of railroad fire in- 

 spectors was increased by the addition of two, and the State was 

 divided into two districts, with a Chief Inspector for each district. 

 The present year was marked by much more rainfall than the 

 year previous ; but in certain parts of the State during the months 

 of June and July there was a long period of dry weather. The 

 showing in fire protection for the year has been excellent. There 

 were 383 forest fires reported, which was one- third fewer than the 

 number which occurred in 1911; and of this total only a small 

 proportion could be called large fires. Only 15 burned over 100 

 acres before they were checked. The total area burned during 

 the current year is but one-fifth of that burned in 1911, and the 

 expense of fighting fires has been reduced by more than three- 

 fifths ; the total damage done by forest fire decreased approxi- 

 mately three-fourths, or from $43,000 to about $11,000. Of the 

 acreage damaged by fire only 185 acres were virgin timberland ; 

 and of the total acreage under protection by the State less than 

 7,000 acres, or one-tenth of one per cent, suffered from fire. 



Railroad Fiees. 



More than any other one agency, railroad locomotives have been 

 responsible for forest conflagration, but it may be noted that no 

 railroad fire this year burned over an area exceeding 40 acres, and 

 most of the land which was damaged in this way was denuded or 

 brush land on the outskirts of the forest proper, so that the actual 

 amount of damage from this source was comparatively small. In- 

 sistence upon better cleaning of rights-of-way, the use of improved 

 protective devices on locomotives, and increased vigilance on the 

 part of the fire-fighting force are responsible for the decreased 

 severity of railroad fires. 



