76 Second Annual Report of the 



great many parcels are not completely described, or have excep- 

 tions which cannot be located without an examination of the public 

 records. There should be not less than two competent title 

 examiners assigned to this Bureau. This work should be trans- 

 ferred from the Attorney General's Office to this Bureau, and the 

 examination and report on titles not only made here where the 

 papers to which reference must be had are filed, but made before 

 prospective cases are reported to the counsel of your Commission. 

 These searches are often necessary before making surveys to locate 

 the State's lands. 



Forest Fire Protection. 



The Commission under the law is charged with the duty of pro- 

 tecting the forests, which are located in ninety-six towns in the 

 central portions of the Adirondack and Catskill Preserves from 

 forest fires. The protection of forests in towns other than those 

 above mentioned is a town matter, although this Commission is 

 enforcing a State-wide law relative to the clearing of railroad 

 rights of way, and the maintenance of proper equipment in loco- 

 motives. 



NEW LAWS. 



The Lands and Forest portion of the Conservation Law 

 (chapter 444 of the Laws of 1912) was signed by the Governor 

 on April 17, and has therefore, been in effect during practically all 

 of the present fire season. The new law did not materially alter 

 the organization of the fire fighting force although it changed the 

 designation of some of its members. The Adirondack towns are 

 divided into four districts, while the Catskill towns are embraced 

 by one district, each of which was formerly in charge of a Super- 

 intendent of Fires, now called a District Forest Ranger. The 

 employees formerly termed fire patrolmen are now called Forest 

 Rangers. The force of auxiliary fire fighters, who serve only dur- 

 ing emergency, and were previously designated special fire patrol- 

 men, are now called Fire Wardens. The force of railroad fire in- 

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

 divided into two districts with a chief inspector for each district. 

 There are other changes in the fire law which will be referred 

 to later in this report. 



