42 



allowed them the same as the men, for he said they fought better. Up 

 in the town of, Brighton they had women fighting fire and they got 

 their pay the same as the men. There are lots of times when the 

 fires are raging so bad that everyone has to turn out. I am 

 going to send this account to you and see if you don't think they 

 ought to have their pay. I say it is a shame if they don't, and I think 

 you will pay the same.* 



Mr. Edward M. Smith, Saranac Lake, Franklin county. I think 

 the railroad company should put more men on the track in a dry 

 time. 



Mr. William J. Bellin, Fulton county. The fire is still burning in 

 the ground at places. It cannot be extinguished now as there is no 

 water. I am watching it all the time so that it will not spread. 



Mr. Netus Lancaster, Stratford, Fulton county. The fire is burn- 

 ing into the muck very deep. 



Mr. F. W. Abrams, Piseco, Hamilton county. I can see how a 

 camp might have prevented this fire. There is no camp on this lake 

 (Sand lake), and this is the second time that a fire has occurred 

 there. A fire for cooking is built in the woods, and a high wind 

 arising, sparks are blown into the forest, starting a fire that soon gets 

 beyond control. I have had no fires where there were camps for 

 people to use. 



Mr. R. B. Nichols, Indian Lake, Hamilton county. We kept the 

 fire from running except on the day when the wind blew so hard. 

 Then it got the advantage of us, but as soon as the wind went down 

 we surrounded it again. I have the fires under control and nearly 

 all out at this time (May 2d). No great damage has been done, as 

 the fires ran mostly in the leaves and did not burn very deep; but 

 over in Minerva, Essex county, on Township 15, it burned pretty 

 hard. I think perhaps it would be well for you to come here after 

 the fires are over, as we will have to do some business with some of 

 those fellows for burning fallows ; also with some that would not go 

 to the fires when ordered out to do so by the district wardens. 



Mr. Wellington Kenwell, Inlet, Hamilton county. All of the men 

 turned in and carried water. At night three of them carried water 

 and had the fire all out by morning. Then three men connected a 

 pipe line, turning a one and one-half inch stream of water on the 

 burning ground. We kept this pipe line running for three weeks. 

 One fire started opposite the mouth of Indian river, just about the 

 Beecher camp. I think it was started by a smoker, as there were 

 parties fishing there. The fire on Lime Kiln lake was started by 

 parties camping there. I employed a man to get the names of the 



"The women were paid. W. P. P. 



