53 



Signed, Riley Parsons, firewarden. I proceeded to engage men 

 upon the strength of the above. I have good evidence that the 

 railroad, up to last Saturday, continued to use defective engines 

 through this district, thereby continuing to set fires. Roberts, the 

 district firewarden, has just now telephoned me in reply to a request 

 for help, that he " cannot be everywhere." I address this note to 

 Colonel Fox in particular, as I am personally acquainted with him 

 and am in communication with him on this matter by telegraph; 

 also knowing that he will connect up with the proper authorities. 



Mr. Eugene M. House, Big Moose, Herkimer county. There is 

 due me $23 for fighting fire on State land in Township 41. I was 

 left there on duty after all the other men had gone out of the woods. 

 I agreed to pay $20 to any man who would find fire there after 1 left. 

 This was not a political job like tending a bridge or canal lock, 

 where a man would not do enough for healthy exercise; but good, 

 solid, hard work with axe and shovel. I think I have waited long 

 enough. Please send check by return mail. 



Mrs. Ella Flagg, Saranac Lake, Franklin county. I would like 

 to call your attention to Messrs. Stratton & Lundstrom, contractors 

 engaged on construction work along the Saranac and Lake Placid 

 Railroad, in regard to their engine setting fires. This morning the 

 engine named " Grace " set a fire and ruined our private park. It 

 would have burned our cottage only for myself and daughter fighting 

 fire until the fire department arrived. The fire department of this 

 place said that not one engine had a screen. One of the engineers 

 told me that he had put on the screens to-day. They are setting 

 forest fires from this place to Lake Placid.* 



Mr. Chester W. Chapin, President New England Railroad Com- 

 pany, 511 Bullitt Building, Philadelphia, Pa. They are making it 

 very hot for me up in Sullivan county. As soon as the wind blows 

 towards my woods in goes the fire. The damn scamps have made 

 the boast that they would burn me, and they are doing their best. 

 The elements are in their favor, for we cannot get a drop of rain. 

 I wish some of the rascals could be caught, for they must have injured 

 me 6,000 or more acres already, and they have injured others even 

 more. I am keeping a sharp watch and plenty of men, horses, and 

 wagons, with water barrels and pails. These same fellows that fire 

 the woods violate other laws. I would like to work with the Com- 

 mission to help catch them. 



Mr. W. K. Benedict, New York city. I was a passenger on the 

 New York Central train from Saranac Lake to New York last Sat- 



* These are the small locomotives employed by the contractors on the construction of the 

 new line ; the contractors are in the employ of the D. & H. R. R. The engines are the ones re- 

 ferred to in my report. W. F. F. 



