166 Third Annual Report of the 



Preserve during the fire season. The appropriation under this law 

 was not sufficient, however, to permit the organization of a large 

 and efficient patrol force. 



Thus we see that, with a few changes, the fire warden system 

 prevailed from 188,5 to 1909. The disastrous fires of 1908, 

 coupled with the lessons taught by the fires of 1903, showed that 

 the system was unsatisfactory. The need was felt for the estab- 

 lishment of a paid fire patrol force, and of a sufficient force of 

 railroad inspectors to secure the enforcement of the laws pertain- 

 ing to railroads. The year 1909 saw the introduction of the 

 present system, which has since been retained substantially 

 unchanged. 



The 1909 law 7 provided that the Commissioner should divide the 

 Forest Preserve into districts not to exceed four in number and 

 place in charge of each of these districts an official to be known 

 as a Superintendent of Fires. With the approval of the Com- 

 missioner the Superintendents of Fires were to divide their dis- 

 tricts into patrol districts, employing a suitable person, to be 

 known as a Fire Patrolman, to look after forest fires within each 

 patrol district. Besides providing for a paid fire patrol, the law 

 also made possible the establishment and operation of mountain 

 observation stations. 



The Governor was given the power, in time of extreme drought, 

 to forbid, by proclamation, any person from entering any portion 

 of the lands within the Forest Preserve for the purpose of camp- 

 ing, hunting or fishing. 



The portions of the law relating to the restriction of the setting 

 of fires to clear land, burn brush, etc., remained practically un- 

 changed. The provisions relating to railroads were made more 

 specific than in the old law. The Public Service Commission 

 was made the judge of what constituted suitable devices to prevent 

 the escape of sparks and coals from the engines. All railroads 

 were required to clear their rights of way of inflammable material 

 at least twice a year; and lines in the forest preserve counties 

 w r ere required to take such action whenever such clearing might be 

 required by the Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner. The " in- 

 spectors " provided for by the law of 1904 were retained in the 

 new organization, and these men have been employed to good 

 advantage in securing compliance with the law. 



