OTHER RESOURCES 125 



maintained as a regular crop and it puts into effect a 

 sane polic}^ that exemplifies true conservation instead 

 of putting a premium on inexcusable waste. 



In order to protect large forest areas against fire, 

 the State has marked off the boundary of two large 

 areas, one in the Adirondacks and the other in the 

 Catskills, within which special provisions are made 

 for detecting and extinguishing fires. The town- 

 ships within this area are called State fire protection 

 towns. The areas are subdivided into districts and 

 forest rangers with fire wardens and observation sta- 

 tions equipped with an observer, telescopes and other 

 instruments, and with which telephone connections 

 are maintained. Of course fires are more likely to 

 occur at some seasons than at others. Records show 

 that most fires start in May and August. In the 

 bad season, from sixty-three to seventy fire rangers 

 are maintained. In the best season this number 

 is reduced to twenty-five or thirty. There are forty 

 mountain observation stations. These have had a 

 material effect in reducing damage by fires. State 

 regulations backed by laws have been enacted requir- 

 ing precautions on the part of individuals who may 

 be in forest areas against letting fires get a free 

 range. Railroad locomotives must have equipment 

 against setting fires by means of sparks or ashes and 

 a system of inspection is maintained. A top-lopping 

 law is designed to hasten the removal of brush by 

 requiring that it be lopped down in close contact 

 with the ground so that it will decay rapidly. 

 It must also be piled so as to hinder the spread of fire. 



