FOREST FIRES 107 



In the province of New Brunswick some forest fires 

 were raging, but we experienced no trouble from them, 

 although the sky at times was overcast with smoke. 



Some thirty miles away, on the line of the new 

 Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, now in course of con- 

 struction, we could hear the explosions made from the 

 use of large charges of dynamite in blasting through 

 hard strata of rock. These severe concussions may 

 have been the reason why we had two days of almost 

 torrential rain. 



In Maine we saw the forest fires. In one section four 

 hundred men were fighting the fire demon, in another 

 two hundred and fifty were engaged in the same 

 arduous work. There were no explosions, however, 

 and no rains at all during our rather long stay. 

 The atmosphere was, in consequence, exceedingly dry 

 and resonant, to such a degree that it was difficult to 

 hunt with success, the slightest noise being heard at 

 what would seem to be an almost incredible distance. 



A half century ago, a fierce fire swept through Aroo- 

 stook County in Maine, and burnt most of the timber 

 down to the ground. This county is a large one, and 

 runs parallel upon its northeastern boundary to the St. 

 Johns Eiver the mighty river of the North, which 

 empties into the ocean by way of the city of St. Johns, 

 New Brunswick. The loss from this memorable con- 

 flagration was enormous, not alone in timber, but in 

 household property, public improvements, etc. 



