Mr. M. O. Sergeant, Eldred, Sullivan county. The town board 

 has fixed the price for fighting fire at $i per day. There are a 

 number of men here who say they will not fight fire if ordered out, 

 claiming it is unconstitutional to force a man to work for so small 

 a sum. What will be my duty in case they refuse to go when 

 ordered out? I do not anticipate any trouble unless fire should 

 break out on lands of some individuals who are very strict in regard 

 to trespasses. Is this town obliged to pay those men for putting out 

 fires inside Mr. Chapin's enclosure ; men who get their pay also from 

 Mr. Chapin? The park consists of several thousand acres, only a 

 small portion of which is in this town. It is fenced with barbed 

 wire to the height of 10 feet and any man found on his grounds, 

 inside or outside, is prosecuted. His men shoot every dog that 

 comes within gunshot; so you can see why there are so many fires 

 near his park. Of course, the sympathy of all honest men is with 

 Mr. Chapin. 



Mr. Philip Gerhardt, Fremont, Sullivan county. On examination 

 I found that a party of hunters had passed through the woods and 

 immediately thereafter the fire was discovered. The fire was un- 

 doubtedly started by them. I wish to state further that I warned 

 out one Charles Stosser, who refused to go. This has a bad effect 

 on others, and I would recommend that something be done in his 

 case. 



Mr. Jay H. Simpson, Phoenicia, Ulster county. Fire started in 

 Broadstreet Hollow May ist. The wind was blowing fifty miles 

 an hour and the fire swept towards Phoenicia. I warned out men. 

 Fought it all night Friday, Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday, 

 and held it from coming into Shandaken. Walter Evans (firewar- 

 den) held it on the other side. We ditched and backfired. In 

 places the wind would carry the fire 300 feet over our lines. 



