The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-08
STATE FIRE WARDEN ANDREWS
is WARNING THE DENIZENS OF
RURAL DISTRICTS.
WATCH CLOSELY ALL FIRES,
HE URGES, LEST DISASTERS ARISE
IN THE WAKE OFF CAREL LESS-
NESS.
INCENDIARISM Is CHARGEI
Said That Some Communities Have
People Who Set Fires to Get
State Rewards.

State Fire Warden G. G.. Andrews is
taking time by the forelock during the
present well-watered state of weather,
and, lest subsequent weeks should re-
veal dryer stage, he is sending out
to the local wardens in the state the
following warning circular:
To Fire Wardens: A package containing
ten warning placards has just been mailed
from this office TO each chairman Of town
board and to each fire warden in unorganized
territory, and they should be carefully posted,
as provided by section Of the forest preser-
walton act of April IS, 1895. If any should be
received by chairmen in towns so much set
tied as not to require precautions against
forest or prairie fires the town board can
exercise its discretion in regard to their being
posted.
g. Chairmen are requested to promptly fill
and return the blank entitled Fire Wardens
for 1897 also hand to their colleagues
copy of within circulars, which should be
carefully studied.
s. Section of said law requires you to
take precautions to prevent the setting of
forest or prairie fres.' 1t may be about inn
possible to eXtinguish a forest fire in dry
and very windy weather, but II fire wardens
do their duty thoroughly they can almost
entirely prevent the occurrence of dangerous
fires. 1t is violation of section 9 of this
act for any one to set fire in dry weather.
Fire wardens must make, this known and
they must firmly enforce the law by exemplary
precautions. This is the third year the law
has been in operation and it should now
be strictly. enforced. Fire wardens with them
selves be liable. to prosecution if they fail
to have it so enforced They, should take
a pride in being able to report. at the end
of the season that no fires have occurred
in their town. . .. s...,.-, t.5
d. The annual reports Of ere wardens for
1896 show there were in that year fifteen
less forest and prairie fires caused by rail-
road locomotives than in 1885. There is, how
ever, much room for further Improvement.
An engineer whose locomotive sets fire
second time should be prosecuted. 1t would
not be advisable, however, on making ar
rest to take him from his train, but he
should have week or ten days notice
in which to appear and answer before the
court. Such offenses are likewise indictable
by the grand jury. Fire wardens owe it to
themselves to see that there is in their dis
tricts a marked decrease of fires caused by
railroad locomotives.
Complaint has been publicly made within
the last few months that fires have been set
by people to obtain pay for putting them
out. Such criminal and disgraceful pro-
ceedings may have occurred in few In
stances, but they certainly cannot be common.
Fire wardens VINO have reason to suspect any
offense of this sort should, for the honor OF
their community, have it stopped, and 1t is
hoped they Will use a wise course and &C
complish such object.
6. Several complaints have been received
from fire wardens that the county commits
sioners have refused to audit their accounts.
Under section Of the forest preservation act
of April Is, 1895, county commissioners have
authority, and it is their duty, to reject any
item or account if they are not satisfied of its
justice. They cannot, however, arbitrarily
refuse to audit (eXamine and settle) an ac-
count If they were to do SO, or unjustly
disallow accounts they would practically null
lily the law. 1t is their duty to audit the
accounts of fire wardens and their helpers
and allow what, as air-minded men, they are
satisfied is just. Section Of chapter 81 of
the General Laws of Minnesota applies to all
public officers. 'E g.
7. The diffusion of knowledge in respect
to forestry will promote Observance of the
forest preservation act. When people under
stand how much the wealth of our state
could be increased by a proper management
of its forest resources they will be much
more careful about causing forest fires. For
estry means the raising Of timber on land
not suitable for agriculture. In Saxony and
Wurtemburg (anrong other. countries) which
have had superior forestry management, a
continuous annual net profit of from So to 81
per acre is derived from the forests. If MIN
nesota will lay the foundation of a good
forestry system (and the prevention Of forest
fires is the first important step in such a
system) it will build up a continuous, in
creasing and grand abor-furnishing resource
and those who are doing ever SO humble
part in the feeble beginning of this work
may feel that they are rendering honorable
service to their community and state.
Thousands OF new settlers and farmers in
the older states made the great mistake of
clearing up land that was only suitable for
forest. From such tracts they obtained
very few crops, and then the land rapidly
uCSSnSLeooeu iii hoM II Isl IH IudHy pidceS,
but little else than naked sand. Whereas,
if they had left such tracts in forest it
would have been source of continuous profit
to them. Many settlers in Northern Mime
sofa are repeating the same mistake. 1t would
be more profitable for them If they would
look further into the future and retain in
forest every acre that is really unsuitable
for agriculture.
The more you can interest people In the
important subject of forestry the lighter VIII
be your work of enforcing. the law, Very.
respectfully, &C. C Andrews
Chief Fire Warden State CanitoI