FIREWARDEN'S REPORT. 65 



This car has been kept in service throughout the season, running 

 close behind each train whenever the vegetation along the track 

 was in a condition to burn. The experiment has been entirely 

 successful. Nb fires have been started from 1 the railroad, the 

 management is satisfied alike with its freedom from damage 

 claims and with the small cost of operation. The success of this 

 single car may be referred to as evidence of the wisdom of 

 authorizing a body like the Forest Commission to meet each 

 situation in whatever promises to be the most practicable way. 

 Such a car would be a nuisance on any of the larger roads ; it is 

 even doubtful if one could be run satisfactorily on any other 

 railroad in the State than this where trains are few and the 

 speed not great. 



Action of Property Ozvners. 



The willingness of property owners to co-operate with the 

 Forest Commission and the railroads in the maintenance of fire 

 lines is even more unanimous than it was a year ago, if their 

 failure to file objections may be taken as an index. Thus of 

 the 348 property owners who were notified of the intention to 

 construct fire lines this year only 18 objected. Every objec- 

 tion has of course been upheld in accordance with the policy 

 laid down by the Forest Commission, and in the case of the 

 High Bridge branch of the New Jersey Central Railroad above 

 referred to, the construction of a length of fire line was sus- 

 pended on account of the objections so interrupting it that it 

 could have had but little value. All this has had the further 

 effect of satisfying those most interested that neither the Forest 

 Commission nor the railroad have any sinister object in carry- 

 ing through this work. The law, if it shall be finally upheld, 

 apparently safeguards the interest of the property owners in 

 every reasonable way. The fear that the right of entrance 

 given a railroad company might develop into a title by posses- 

 sion is being allayed, and it is found practicable in cases of 

 assumed injury to make an adjustment which satisfies all 

 interests. 



