Conservation Commission 169 



the forest preserve counties. The organization of the railroad 

 inspection force was improved by the designation of two Chief 

 Fire Inspectors and not to exceed four other Fire Inspectors. 

 The State was to be divided into two districts with a Chief In- 

 spector in charge of each one. Power was given to the Chief In- 

 spectors to reject from service any locomotives which, in their 

 opinion, were "deficient in adequate design, construction or main- 

 tenance of their fire protective devices." 



The law further required that all engines operated in or near 

 forest land, such as donkey, traction, or portable engines, steam, 

 sawmill or any other engine not using oil for fuel, should be 

 equipped with devices giving "the most practicable protection 

 against the escape of sparks and cinders from the smokestack 

 thereof." 



Having considered the progress of legislation affecting the for- 

 est fire situation from 1885, when the first laws bearing upon 

 this matter were enacted, to the present time, we are now in a 

 position to take up the question of the present organization of the 

 fire fighting force under the Conservation Commission. 



PRESENT FIRE PROTECTIVE SYSTEM MAINTAINED BY 

 THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT 



The Conservation Commission is composed of three commis- 

 sioners appointed by the Governor. The department is divided 

 into three branches: (1) Lands and Forests, (2) Fish and 

 Game and (3) Inland Waters. A deputy commissioner is ap- 

 pointed to head each of the three branches of the department. 

 The Division of Lands and Forests is further subdivided into two 

 bureaus, (1) Lands and (2) Forests. The latter is designated as 

 the Bureau of Forestry, and is under the direction of the Super- 

 intendent of State Forests. 



The work of the Bureau of Forestry may be considered under 

 three heads, (1) fire protection, (2) trespass and (3) technical 

 forestry. Before going on to discuss the question of fire pro- 

 tection, it may be well to define the Forest Preserve as it exists at 

 present There are sixteen forest preserve counties. Twelve of 

 these, containing about 10,773,000 acres, are in the Ad'rondack 



