report presents the study of a for- 

 fire problem of 1908 on a specified 

 tract of timberland, and shows the con- 

 ditions which existed prior to the fires of 

 October 17, the character and extent of the 

 fires, their behavior with respect to slashings, 

 fire lines, or wagon roads, the amount of 

 damage done, and the suggestion of a plan 

 for the future fire protection of the tract. It 

 shows that if a number of the old railroad 

 grades had been kept clean and used as fire 

 lines, in connection with the numerous wagon 

 roads that run through the tract, and that if 

 ? system of patrol had been employed during 

 the danger season, the amount of damage done 

 by the fires which entered the tract from 

 various points would have been comparatively 

 slight, and that the cost of protection would 

 have been fully warranted on account of the 

 value of property that would have been 

 saved. 



Location and Area of Tract. 

 The timberland of the David Ward Estate, 

 with the exception of what is known as the 

 Alba tract, a few miles to the northwest of 



