50 



Mr. M. W. Knight, Hancock, Delaware county. This fire oc- 

 curred on the line of the Ontario and Western Railroad, and the 

 work train coming along with its gang extinguished it, so I had 

 no men to pay. The other fire started in a fallow and spread to 

 State land. There is quite a lot of hemlock timber burned on the 

 State land, and it ought to be cut and peeled this year in order to 

 save it. In another year it will all be spoiled. 



Mr. E. A. Howes, Trout Creek, Delaware county. This fire had 

 to be watched. It was extinguished several times; but as it was a 

 very dry time it would start up after we thought it was entirely out. 



Mr. Jeremiah E. Haines, Haines Falls, Greene county. The fire 

 was so far from where men could be obtained to fight it that it was 

 necessary to employ teams to carry the men back and forth. The 

 dead spruce branches made a fierce blaze, and one that was hard to 

 fight and control. 



Mr. W. B. Hall, Cairo, Greene county. I shall either appoint a 

 new warden in his place or a deputy as you suggest. He is a good, 

 practical man ; but on account of rheumatism he is unable to climb 

 mountains. I have given plenty of warning to certain careless peo- 

 ple, and they had better look out this summer. I think it about time 

 that they realize that the State is not doing this for fun. 



Mr. J. W. Darbee, Roscoe, Sullivan county. Thunder and light- 

 ning began, and looking over on the mountain I saw a fire about 

 the size of a barrel. It burned rapidly ; but the rain stopped it from 

 running. Three men about a mile distant from one another claim 

 to have seen the lightning strike a stub where I noticed this fire. 



Mr. Plymouth Davis, Livingston Manor, Sullivan county. I have 

 had the following notice inserted in the newspaper: On account 

 of the great number of forest fires I wish to inform farmers and 

 taxpayers in general, that it is to their interest to see that the law 

 relating to setting forest fires is fully observed. After June loth 

 fallows may be burned, and farmers may burn the same by applying 

 to the firewarden of their town and obtaining permit. From Septem- 

 ber ist to November loth no person will be allowed to burn any 

 fallow or brush heap, and they should arrange accordingly. I earn- 

 estly request all taxpayers to inform me of any person who starts 

 a fire, and to see that no fires are started on their own property. By 

 so doing they will greatly lessen their taxes and at the same time 

 contribute to the safety of our forests. 



(Signed) PLYMOUTH DAVIS, 



Firewarden, 

 Town of Rockland. 



