25 



The loss in logs, pulp wood, etc., includes the large amount of acid 

 wood that was cut and piled on the lands of the Brooklyn Cooperage 

 Company; several thousand cords of pulpwood and cordwood, be- 

 longing to the Chauteaugay Iron and Ore Company, piled at Pluma- 

 dore Station, Franklin county; numerous skidways of logs left in 

 the woods last winter through lack of snow, and piles of cordwood 

 in forests near villages or shipping points. 



There was also a loss in the burning of young trees and seedling 

 growth ; in the destruction of the forest humus ; and in the creation 

 of barren conditions that prevent in a great degree the natural refor- 

 esting of the denuded lands. But no estimate could be made of con- 

 sequential damages or prospective losses. 



The causes of the fires, as reported, were : 



Railroad locomotives 121 Wintergreen pickers 3 



Burning fallows 88 Lunatic I 



From other fires by wind. . 61 Door yard fire I 



Fishermen 47 Children at play I 



Tobacco smokers 23 Smoking out a hedgehog. . i 



Hunters 7 Burning a straw bed i 



Incendiaries 6 Burning brakes (ferns)... i 



Camp fires 6 Blasting stone i 



Burning buildings 3 Sparks from torch i 



Sparks from chimneys 3 Lightning i 



There were the usual large number reported as "Cause unknown," 

 many of which were started by sparks carried through the air a long 

 distance from other fires, and several that probably were caused by 

 locomotives, as they began at some railroad line. 



As in other years, a number were started by farmers who 

 took advantage of the dry spell to burn their fallows ; but with a few 



